ere are your guests come again to rejoice in
your good fortune," cried the caliph from the street.

"What, again?" roared Yussuf. "Well, now, you must take the
consequence. Fly, or you are dead men. I have sworn by Allah, not only
that you should not come into my door, but that I would cudgel you
whenever we met again."

"Nay, thou pearl among men, 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 every thing,
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 every thing 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