THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES. 61

very rich merchandise, which we have deposited in a khan,
where we have taken up our lodging. We have been to spend
the day with a merchant of this city, who invited us to go to
see him. He treated us with a fine collation ; and as the wine
we drank put us into 2 very good humour, he sent for a com-
pany of dancers. The night was already far advanced, and
while we were playing on our instruments, the others dancing,
and the whole company making a great noise, the watch hap-
pened to pass by, and obliged us to open the door. Some of the
company were arrested: we were, however, so fortunate as to
escape, by getting over a wall. But,” added the vizier, “as we
are strangers, and have taken perhaps rather more wine than we
ought, we are afraid of meeting with a second party of the watch,
or perhaps the same, before we arrive at our khan, which is at a
considerable distance from hence. And we should even then get
there to no purpose, for the gate would be shut, and whoever
may come there, they will not open it till morning. This is the
reason, madam, that as we heard, in passing by, the sound of
instruments and voices, we thought all those who belonged to
the house were not yet retired; and we took the liberty to
knock to beg you to afford us a retreat till the morning. If we
appear to you worthy of taking a part in your amusements, we
will endeavour, as far as we are able, to contribute to it, in order
to repair the interruption we have caused; if not, do us at least
the favour to suffer us to pass the night under the cover of your
vestibule.”

During this speech of Giafar, the beautiful Safié had an op-
portunity of examining the vizier and the two persons whom he
also called merchants, and judging from their countenances
that they were not common men, she said that she was not
mistress, but if they would give themselves a moment's patience
she would return and bring the answer. Safié went and related
all this to her sisters, who hesitated some time as to what they
ought todo. But they were naturally kind, and as they had
conferred the same favour on the three calenders, they resolved
to permit these also to come in. The caliph, the grand vizier,
and the chief of the slaves, being introduced by the beautifut
Safid, saluted the ladies and the calenders with great civility.
They, supposing them merchants, returned it in the same man-
ner; and Zobeidé, as the principal person, with that grave and