25
made him sit down and asked him of his case. Quoth Ibrahim, ‘I am a stranger and desire of thy favour that thou look me out a house in this street where I may take up my abode.’ With this the other cried out, saying, ‘Ho, Ghezaleh!’ And there came forth to him a slave-girl, who said, ‘At thy service, O my lord!’ ‘Take some servants,’ said her master, ‘and go to such a house and clean it and furnish it with all that is needful for this well-favoured youth.’
So she went forth and did as he bade her; whilst the old man took the youth and showed him the house; and he said, ‘O my lord, what is the rent of this house?’ ‘O bright of face,’ answered the other, ‘I will take no rent of thee, what while thou abidest there.’ Ibrahim thanked him for this and the old man called another slave-girl, whereupon there came forth to him a damsel like the sun, to whom said he, ‘Bring chess.’ So she brought it and one of the servants set the board; whereupon said his host to Ibrahim, ‘Wilt thou play with me?’ And he answered, ‘Yes.’ So they played several games and Ibrahim beat him. ‘Well done, O youth!’ exclaimed the other. ‘Thou art indeed perfect in qualities. By Allah, there is not one in Baghdad can beat me, and yet thou hast beaten me!’
When they had made ready the house and furnished it with all that was needful, the old man delivered the keys to Ibrahim and said to him, ‘O my lord, wilt thou not enter my house and honour me by eating of my bread?’ He assented and entering with him, found it a handsome and goodly house, decorated with gold and full of all manner pictures and furniture and other things, such as the tongue availeth not to set out. The old man welcomed him and called for food, whereupon they brought a table of the make of Senaa of Yemen and spread it with all manner rare meats, than which there
