At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, who rose up to receive them, told them courteously that they were welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige them and to contribute toward relieving the fatigues of their journey, and invited them to sit down with them. When the calenders were seated, the ladies served them with meat; and Safie, being highly pleased with them, did not let them want for wine.
When the calenders had finished their repast, they said they wished to entertain the party with a concert if they had any instruments in the house, and would cause them to be brought; the ladies willingly accepted the proposal, and Safie went to fetch them. Each man took the instrument he liked and all three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who knew the words of a merry song that suited the air, joined with their voices; but the words of the song made them now and then stop, and fall into excessive laughter. While their amusement was at its height, there was a knock of unwonted loudness at their gate.
Now, it was the custom of the sultan Haroun al Raschid, to go sometimes during the night through the city, in disguise, in order to discover whether everything was quiet. On this evening he set out from his palace, accompanied by Giafar, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, chief of the household, all three disguised as merchants; and he it was, who, in passing through the street, and attracted by the noise of
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