On the following morning the merchant applied himself to put his affairs in order; and first of all to pay his debts.  He made presents to his friends, gave liberal alms to the poor, set his slaves of both sexes at liberty, divided his property among his children, appointed guardians for such of them as were not of age; and after restoring to his wife all that was due to her by their marriage contract, he gave her in addition as much as the law would allow him.

At last the year expired, and he was obliged to depart.  He put his burial clothes in his wallet; but when he came to bid his wife and children adieu, their grief surpassed description.  They could not reconcile their minds to the separation, but resolved to go and die with him.  When, however, it became necessary for him to tear himself from these dear objects, he addressed them in the following terms:  “My dear wife and children, I obey the will of heaven in quitting you.  Follow my example, submit with fortitude to this necessity, and consider that it is the destiny of man to die.”  Having thus spoken, he went out of the hearing of the cries of his family; and pursuing his journey, arrived on the day appointed at the place where he had promised to meet the genie.  He alighted, and seating himself down by the fountain, waited the coming of the genie, with all the sorrow imaginable.  Whilst he languished under this painful expectation, an old man leading a hind appeared and drew near him.  After they had saluted one another, the old man said to him, “Brother, may I ask why you are come into this desert place, which is possessed solely by evil spirits, and where consequently you cannot be safe?  From the beautiful trees which are seen here, one might indeed suppose the place inhabited; but it is in reality a wilderness, where it is dangerous to remain long.”

The merchant satisfied his curiosity, and related to him the adventure which obliged him to be there.  The old man listened with astonishment, and when he had done, exclaimed, “This is the most surprising thing in the world! and you are bound by the most inviolable oath.  However, I will be witness of your interview with the genie.”  He then seated himself by the merchant, and they entered into conversation.

“But I see day,” said Scheherazade, “and must leave off; yet the best of the story is to come.”  The sultan resolving to hear the end of it, suffered her to live that day also.

The next morning Dinarzade made the same request to her sister as before:  “My dear sister,” said she, “if you be not asleep, tell me one of those pleasant stories that you have read.”  But the sultan, wishing to learn what followed betwixt the merchant and the genie, bade her proceed with that, which she did as follows.

Sir, while the merchant and the old man who led the hind were conversing, they saw another old man coming towards them, followed by two black dogs; after they had saluted one another, he asked them what they did in that place?  The old man with the hind told him the adventure of the merchant and genie, with all that had passed between them, particularly the merchant’s oath.  He added, that it was the day agreed on, and that he was resolved to stay and see the issue.