If all this interests you so much, go to his palace: there are idle
people enough there that can satisfy your curiosity. I have no time:
some buyers are waiting whom I have neglected by my conversation with
you."

He turned to the customers, apologized for his inattention, and
demanded their wishes.

Jussuf resolved to follow his advice and go to the palace. He no
longer recognized it: two small palaces which stood on each side had
been thrown down, and, in their places, two wings had been added to
his own. The principal door of the middle palace stood open, and many
male and female servants went in and out. He asked one of the porters
to whom the palace belonged, and received the same answer as at the
bazaar.

"But will your lord ever come again?" he asked. "He has been gone a
long while; no man knows where he is, and he has sent no messengers
back."

"What! sent no messenger?" cried both porters in a breath; "he has
sent his wife here a long time since, and has himself arrived to-day.
His brother Hassan Assad has always had sure news of him, and so he
knew of his arrival to-day, and has prepared everything for his
reception. His old teacher, who had not before been seen for years,
has come forth to-day from his solitude, and arrived here."

"What! Modibjah also here?" he asked.

"See, see!" answered both, "you know his name better than we. Yes,
yes, his name is Modibjah: I could not recollect."

"Let me go in, good people," said he, "that I may speak to him."

"No, no," said one of them, obstructing the way; "what business have
you in? The marriage ceremony is about to be performed in the hall,
after the manner of our religion; the imam is just now gone in;
therefore no strangers can be admitted."

"What!" cried Jussuf, "your lord already arrived? Where is the
impostor? Let me in, that I may confront him."

Both porters opposed him, because he tried to force his way in.

"Do you not know your lord," asked Jussuf, full of indignation, "that
you thus oppose him?"

They assured him that they had not been long in Assad's service, and
did not know Jussuf; but they had been told that he was arrived.

"Yes," cried Jussuf, "he is arrived, but not yet in his palace; he
will soon be in."

With these words he pushed the nearest on one side, threw him to the
ground, and then the other also. He pressed forward quickly into the
splendid hall, unopposed by the numerous servants, to whom he seemed
to come from th