thou ocean of good temper, rise and receive
us. It is our destiny, and who can prevent it?"

"Well, then," replied Yussuf, coming out to the verandah with his great
cudgel, "if it is your destiny, it will not be my fault."

"But, good Yussuf," replied the caliph, "hear us. This is the last time
that we request admittance. We swear it by the _three_. You rail at us
as if we harmed you; whereas, you must acknowledge that everything,
however unfortunate at first appearance, has turned only to thy
advantage."

"That is true," replied Yussuf; "but still it is through your pernicious
omens that I am made to change my trade every day. What am I to be
next?"

"Is not your trust in God?" replied Giaffar. "Besides, we promise thee
faithfully that we will not say one word on the subject, and that this
shall be the last time that we demand your hospitality."

"Well," replied Yussuf, who was very drunk, "I will open the door for
the last time, as I must not war with destiny." So saying, he reeled
down the stairs, and let them in.

The caliph found everything in extraordinary profusion. Yussuf sang for
some time without noticing them; at last he said, "You Moussul rascals,
why do you not ask me to narrate how I have had such good fortune? You
are dying with envy, I presume; but now you shall hear it, and if you
dare to go away till I have told you all, I will shower down such a
quantity of blows upon your carcasses, as shall leave you worse than a
bastinado of five hundred."

"We are all obedience and humility, O prince of men!" replied the
caliph.

Yussuf then narrated the events of the day, concluding with, "I am
Yussuf, my trust is in God! A beeldar will I live, a beeldar will I die,
in spite of the caliph and his grand vizier to boot. Here's confusion to
them both!" He then drank off a cup of rakee, and rolling over in a
state of stupid intoxication, fell fast asleep.

The caliph and Giaffar blew out the lights, and then let themselves out
of the door, and, much amused with the adventures of Yussuf, they
regained the private gate of the seraglio.

The next morning Yussuf awoke, and finding it late, hastened to dress
himself in his best clothes, saying to himself, "I am a beeldar, and I
will die a beeldar." He took care to comb out his beard, and twist it in
a fiercer manner; and then putting on his sham sword, lost no time in
going to the palace, where he took his station among the beeldars who
were on duty, hoping