“By the sword of the prophet!” exclaimed the caliph, “this fellow baffles me in everything.  Have I not made the whole city uncomfortable, and submit to decrees which appeared to be promulgated by a madman, merely to chastise this wine-bibber, and behold he revels as before?  I am weary of attempting to baffle him; however, let us find out, if possible, how he has provided for his table.  What, ho! friend Yussuf, are you there?  Here 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 everything, 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 everything 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.