but we had the good fortune to escape; it being already late, and the door of our khan shut up, we knew not whither to go. We chanced, as we passed along this street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in obedience to your commands.”
“Well, then,” said Zobeide, “you shall all be equally obliged to me: I pardon you all, provided you immediately depart.”
Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the caliph said to the calenders without making himself known, “You, gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go, since it is not yet day?” “It is this,” they replied, “that perplexes us.” “Follow us,” resumed the caliph, “and we will convey you out of danger.” He then whispered to the vizier: “Take them along with you, and to-morrow morning bring them to me.”
The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the palace.
On the following morning, as the day dawned, the Sultan Haroun al Raschid arose, went to his council-chamber,
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