then come with me."

When they reached the garden gate they found it open, to the great
indignation of the Caliph. The door of the pavilion being also open,
he went softly upstairs, and looked in at the half-closed door of the
saloon. Great was his surprise to see Scheih Ibrahim, whose sobriety
he had never doubted, drinking and singing with a young man and a
beautiful lady. The Caliph, before giving way to his anger, determined
to watch and see who the people were and what they did.

Presently Scheih Ibrahim asked the beautiful Persian if anything were
wanting to complete her enjoyment of the evening.

"If only," she said, "I had an instrument upon which I might play."

Scheih Ibrahim immediately took a lute from a cup-board and gave it to
the Persian, who began to play on it, singing the while with such skill
and taste that the Caliph was enchanted. When she ceased he went
softly downstairs and said to the vizir:

"Never have I heard a finer voice, nor the lute better played. I am
determined to go in and make her play to me."

"Commander of the Faithful," said the vizir, "if Scheih Ibrahim
recognises you he will die of fright."

"I should be sorry for that," answered the Caliph, "and I am going to
take steps to prevent it. Wait here till I return."

Now the Caliph had caused a bend in the river to form a lake in his
garden. There the finest fish in the Tigris were to be found, but
fishing was strictly forbidden. It happened that night, however, that
a fisherman had taken advantage of the gate being open to go in and
cast his nets. He was just about to draw them when he saw the Caliph
approaching. Recognising him at once in spite of his disguise, he
threw himself at his feet imploring forgiveness.

"Fear nothing," said the Caliph, "only rise up and draw thy nets."

The fisherman did as he was told, and produced five or six fine fish,
of which the Caliph took the two largest. Then he desired the
fisherman to change clothes with him, and in a few minutes the Caliph
was transformed into a fisherman, even to the shoes and the turban.
Taking the two fish in his hand, he returned to the vizir, who, not
recognising him, would have sent him about his business. Leaving the
vizir at the foot of the stairs, the Caliph went up and knocked at the
door of the saloon. Noureddin opened it, and the Caliph, standing on
the threshold, said:

"Scheih Ibrahim, I am the fisher Kerim. Seeing that you are feasting
w