Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/42

24 return to the palace, after praying the Friday prayers, without acquainting any of his household with his case.

Then he took a bag and filling it with gold and jewels, to the value of thirty thousand dinars, waited till the morning, when he went out, without telling any, and presently overtook a caravan. Here he saw a Bedouin and said to him, ‘O uncle, how far am I from Baghdad?’ ‘O my son,’ replied the other, ‘what hast thou to do with Baghdad? Verily, between thee and it is two months’ journey.’ Quoth Ibrahim, ‘O uncle, an thou wilt bring me to Baghdad, I will give thee a hundred dinars and this mare under me, that is worth other thousand.’ [‘Agreed!’] answered the Bedouin. ‘And God be witness of what we say! Thou shalt not lodge this night but with me.’

Ibrahim agreed to this and passed the night with him. At break of day, the Bedouin took him and fared on with him in haste by a near road, in his eagerness for the promised reward; nor did they leave journeying till they came to the walls of Baghdad, when he said, ‘Praised be God for safety! O my lord, this is Baghdad.’ Whereat Ibrahim rejoiced with an exceeding joy and alighting from the mare, gave her to the Bedouin, together with the hundred dinars. Then he took the bag and [entering the city], walked on, enquiring for the Kerkh quarter and the abiding-place of the merchants, till destiny led him to a by-street, wherein were ten houses, five facing five, and at the farther end was a [gateway with a] two-leaved door and a ring of silver. In the porch stood two benches of marble, spread with the finest carpets, and on one of them sat a man of comely and reverend aspect, clad in sumptuous apparel and attended by five white slaves, like moons.

When Ibrahim saw the street, he knew it by the description the bookseller had given him; so he saluted the man, who returned his greeting and bidding him welcome,