up to King Yusuf whom he informed of their coming and was told, “Suffer them to be till night shall set in.”  Hereupon he took patience, and when came the appointed term Al-Hayfa went up to the Palace.  Now as Allah caused the morn to morrow and to light the world with its shine and sheen, King Yusuf sent to summon the Kazi and witnesses and bade them write his writ of marriage with Al-Hayfa and was wedded to her by Book and traditional Usage.[FN#275] After this Al-Hayfa sent to fetch her mother and bore her to her home and their joy and enjoyment were great and lasting.  Now by the decree of the Decreer anon it befel that the Caliph Al-Maamun waxed strait of breast one night of the nights:  so he summoned a certain of his courtiers whose name was Ibrahim the Cup-companion;[FN#276] but, as they found him not, he bade bring a man hight Al-Khadi’a, and when he came between his hands quoth he to him, “’Tis a while since I have seen thee here.”  Quoth the other, “O Commander of the Faithful, I have been wayfaring about the land of Syria.”  Continued the Prince of True Believers, “Do thou this very night broaden the Caliph’s heart with a delectable tale;” and the other rejoined, “O Viceregent of Allah upon Earth, know thou an adventure befel me with a youth named the Veiled Yusuf of Beauty, son to King Sahl, the friendly ruler of Al-Sind, and with Al-Hayfa the daughter of King Al-Mihrjan, and ’tis a tale whose like hath never been heard; no, never.”  Hereupon he related to Al-Maamun the history of the two, first and last, adding, “Furthermore, O Commander of the Faithful, I have learnt that Al-Hayfa owneth ten handmaidens whose peers are not to be found in thy Palace, and they are mistresses of all manner instruments of mirth and merriment and other matters; and amongst things said of them by their lady when they marvelled at her good fortune, ’Verily this day I have acquired half a score of slave- girls the like of which Al-Maamun hath never collected.’” But when the Prince of True Believers heard this he gave ear to the tale anent them during the livelong night till Allah caused the morn to morrow.  Then he sent for Ibrahim the Cup-companion, and to him coming into the presence the Viceregent of Allah exclaimed “Mount without stay and delay taking with thee one thousand Mamelukes and make thy way to this youth who is King of Al-Sind[FN#277] and named ‘The Veiled Yusuf of Beauty,’ and bring me his ten handmaidens.  After which do thou ask concerning his case and anent his subjects, whether he be just or unjust to the lieges, and if he be righteous I will robe him in honourable robes and if otherwise do thou bring him to my presence.”  Hereupon Ibrahim took leave of the Caliph and went forth at that very time and tide intending for Al-Sind, and he ceased not wending till he arrived there and found Yusuf setting out for the chase.  But when the youth saw the host approaching him—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.  Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night, and that was