nd admittance as for three
strangers who knew not where to seek shelter for the night. Safie, who
had opened the door, came back and obtained permission of her sisters
to admit the newly arrived strangers.

The caliph and his attendants, upon their entrance, most courteously
made obeisance to the ladies and to the calenders. The ladies returned
their salutations, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the
chief, addressed them with a grave and serious countenance and said,
"You are welcome. But while you are here you must have eyes but no
tongues; you must not ask the reason of anything you may see, nor
speak of anything that does not concern you, lest you hear and see
what will by no means please you."

"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall be obeyed. It is enough for us
to attend to our own business, without meddling with what does not
concern us." After this, each seated himself, and the conversation
became general, and they drank to the health of the new guests.

While the vizier Giafar entertained them, the caliph ceased not from
admiring the beauty, elegance, and lively disposition of the ladies;
while the appearance of the three calenders, all blind of the right
eye, surprised him very much. He anxiously wished to learn the cause
of this singularity, but the conditions they had imposed upon him and
his companions prevented any inquiry. Besides all this, when he
reflected upon the richness of the services and furniture, with the
regularity and arrangement everywhere apparent, he could hardly
persuade himself it was not the effect of enchantment.

The guests continued their conversation, when, after an interval,
Zobeide rose up, and taking Amina by the hand, said to her, "Come,
sister, the company shall not prevent us from doing as we have always
been accustomed."

Amina, who perfectly understood what her sister meant, got up, and
took away the dishes, tables, bottles, glasses, and also the
instruments on which the calenders had played. Nor did Safie remain
idle; she snuffed the candles, and added more aloewood and ambergris.
Having done this, she requested the three calenders to sit on a sofa
on one side, and the caliph and his company on the other.

"Get up," said she then to the porter, looking at him, "and be ready
to assist in whatever we want of you."

A little while after, Amina came in with a sort of seat, which she
placed in the middle of the room. She then went to the door of a
closet, and