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knew not whither to retire. It was our Hap as we paſſed along this Street, to hear Mirth 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.
Zobeide having beard this Diſcourſe, ſeem’d to heſitate upon what ſhe ſhould ſay, which the Callenders perceiving, pray’d her to grant the ſame Favour to the three Mouſfol Merchants, as ſhe had done unto them. Well then, ſaid ſhe, I give my Conſent, for you ſhall be equally oblig’d to me: I pardon you all, provided you depart immediately out of this Houſe, and go whither you pleaſe.
Zobeide having given this Command in a Tone that ſignified ſhe wou’d be obey’d, the Caliph, the Viſier Meſrour, the three Callenders, and the Porter, departed without ſaying one Word: For the Preſence of the ſeven Slaves with their Weapons, kept them in awe. When they were out of the Houſe, and the Door ſhut, the Caliph ſaid to the Callenders, without making himſelf known, You Gentlemen Strangers, that are newly come to Town, which way do you deſign to go, ſince it is not yet Day. ’Tis that which perplexes us, Sir, ſaid they. Follow us, replies the Caliph, and we will bring you out of Danger. After ſaying theſe Words, he whiſper’d to the Viſier, Take them along with you, and tomorrow Morning bring them to me, I will cauſe their Hiflory to be put in Writing, ſor it deſerves a Place in the Annals of my Reign.
The Viſier Gisfar, took the three Callenders along with him; the Porter went to his Quarters, and the Caliph and Meſrour returned to the Palace: The Caliph went to Bed, but could not get a Wink of Sleep, his Spirits were ſo perplext by the extraordinary Things he had ſeen and heard: But above all, he was moſt concerned to know who Zobeide was; what Reaſon ſhe could have to be fo ſevere to the two black Bitches, and why Amine had her Boſom ſo mortificd. Day began to appear whilſt he was thinking upon theſe Things; he aroſe and went to his Council-Chamber, where he us’d to give Audicnce, and ſat upon his Throne.
The Grand Viſier came in a little after, and paid his Reſpects as uſual. Viſier, ſaid the Caliph, the Affairs that we have to conſider at preſent are not very preſſing, that ofthe
