THE FORTY THIEVES 255

‘Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our
master and his son’s guest, as we do sometimes
when he is alone.”

Abdoollah took his tabor and played all the way
into the hall before Morgiana, who, when she
came to the door, made a low obeisance, with a
deliberate air, in order to draw attention, and
by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill.
Abdoollah, seeing that his master had a mind
to say something, left off playing. “Come in,
Morgiana,” said Ali Baba, “and let Khaujeh
Houssain see what you can do, that he may tell
us what he thinks of you. But, sir,” said he,
turning towards his guest, “do not think that
I put myself to any expense to give you this
diversion, since these are my slave and my cook
and housekeeper; and I hope you will not find
the entertainment they give us disagreeable.”

Khaujeh Houssain, who did not expect this diver-
sion after supper, began to fear he should not be
able to improve the opportunity he thought he had
found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to
secure it another time by keeping up a friendly
correspondence with the father and son. There-
fore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would
have declined the dance, he pretended to be
obliged to him for it, and had the complaisance