knowledge of what goeth on in my own house, for that I trust to my servant:  so arise thou and see what the lad hath made ready in the kitchen.”  Accordingly, she arose and going down into the kitchen, saw cooking pots over the fire, wherein were all manner of dainty viands, and firstsbread[FN#405] and fresh almond cakes.[FN#406] So she set bread on a dish and ladled out what she would from the pots and brought it to him.  They ate and drank and played and made merry a while of the day; and as they were thus engaged, suddenly up came the master of the house, with his friends, whom he had brought with him, that they might converse together, as of wont.  He saw the door opened and knocked a light knock, saying to his company, “Have patience with me, for some of my family are come to visit me:  wherefore excuse belongeth first to Allah Almighty, and then to you."[FN#407] So they farewelled him and fared their ways, whilst he rapped another light rap at the door.  When the young man heard this, he changed colour and the woman said to him, “Methinks thy lad hath returned.”  He answered, “Yes;” and she arose and opening the door to the master of the house, said to him, “Where hast thou been?  Indeed, thy master is angry with thee!” and he said, “O my lady, I have not been save about his business.”  Then he girt his waist with a kerchief and entering, saluted the young merchant, who said to him, “Where hast thou been?” Quoth he, “I have done thine errands;” and quoth the youth, “Go and eat and come hither and drink.”  So he went away, as he bade him, and ate; then he washed hands and returning to the sittingroom, sat down on the carpet and fell to talking with them; whereupon the young merchant’s heart was heartened and his breast broadened and he applied himself to pleasure.  They were in all joyance of life and the most abounding pleasance till a third part of the night was past, when the house-master arose, and spreading them a bed, invited them to take their rest.  So they lay down and the youth wide awake, pondering their affair till daybreak, when the woman roused herself from sleep and said to her companion, “I wish to go.”  He farewelled her and she departed; whereupon the master of the house followed her with a purse of silver and gave it to her, saying, “Blame not my lord,” and made his excuse to her for his master.  Then he returned to the youth and said to him, “Arise and come to the Hammam;"[FN#408] and he fell to shampooing his hands and feet, whilst the youth called down blessings on him and said “O my lord, who art thou?  Methinks there is not in the world the like of thee; no, nor a pleasanter in thy disposition.”  Then each of the twain acquainted the other with his case and condition and they went to the bath; after which the master of the house conjured the young merchant to return with him and summoned his friends.  So they ate and drank and he told them the tale, wherefore they thanked the house-master and praised him; and their friendship was complete while the young merchant abode in the town, till Allah made easy to him a means of travel, whereupon they farewelled him and he departed; and this is the end of his tale.  “Nor,” continued the Wazir, “O king of the age, is this stranger than the story of the Richard who lost his wealth and his wit.”  When the king heard the Minister’s story, it pleased him and he bade him hie to his home.