the Commander of the Faithful donned disguise and taking with him Ja’afar and Masrur the Eunuch, strolled out to wander about the streets of Baghdad and her highways.  And as they walked along, the Caliph looked about him and beheld a booth wherein a man was turning out Katifah-cakes[FN#100] and he was pleased to admire his dexterity to such degree that, returning to the Palace, he sent him one of his Eunuchs with the message, “The Prince of True Believers requireth of thee an hundred pancakes, and let each one of them, when filled and folded, fit into the hollow of a man’s hand.”  So the Castrato went and gave the order as we have related and paid the price and, when the pastrycook had made his requirement, he carried it away to the presence.  Then the Caliph took seat and bade bring sugar and pistachios and all other such needs wherewith he fell to stuffing the pancakes with his own hands and placing in each and every a golden dinar.  When this was done he despatched the same Eunuch to Kisra’s daughter with the message, “This night the Commander of the Faithful proposeth to visit thee, the year of his oath having expired, and he sendeth to thee saying, ’What is it thy heart coveteth that he may forward it to thee?’” The Castrato set forth upon this errand and received for all reply, “Say him my heart desireth naught, for that all I require is with me nor is there aught of deficiency.”  Accordingly, he returned and repeated her words to the Caliph who bade him fare forth again to her and say the same to her a second time, whenas she, “Let him send me a thousand dinars and a duenna in whom he confideth, so that I may disguise myself and go down with her and distribute gold to the mean and the mesquin.”  Presently back came the slave bearing this reply, whereat the Caliph ordered the moneys be sent to her and the woman required; and the twain, Princess and duenna, went forth and threaded the lanes of Baghdad and her great thoroughfares whilst the young lady distributed her charity to the Fakirs and the paupers.  But when all the gold with her had been expended and naught of it remained, they turned homewards making for the Palace; and, the day being sultry, drowthiness befel the young lady.  So she said to her companion, “O mother mine, I am athirst and want a draught of water to drink;” and said the other, “We will call aloud to the Water-carrier[FN#101] who shall give thee thy need.”  Replied the Princess, “Drinking from the Waterman’s jar will not be pleasant to my heart; nor will I touch it, for ’tis like the whore[FN#102] whereinto some man goeth every hour:  let the draught of water be from a private house and suffer that it be given by way of kindness.”  Hereupon the old woman looked in front of her and saw a grand gateway with a door of sandal-wood over which a lamp hung by a silken cord[FN#103] and a curtain was drawn across it and it had two benches of marble, the whole under the charge of a goodly concierge.  Then quoth she, “From this house I will ask a drink for thee.”