The sheik was beside himself with joy; he scanned the features of his
newly-found son again and again, until he found there the unmistakable
picture of his boy as he was before he had lost him. And all present
shared in his joy, for they loved the sheik, and to each one of them it
was as if a son had that day been sent to him.

Now once more did music and song fill these halls, as in the days of
fortune and of joy. Once more must the young man tell his story, and
all were loud in their praises of the Arabic professor, and the
emperor, and all who had been kind to Kairam. They sat together until
far into the night; and when the assembly broke up, the sheik presented
each one with valuable gifts that they might never forget this day of
joy.

But the four young men, he introduced to his son, and invited them to
be his constant companions; and it was arranged that the son should
read with the young writer, make short journeys with the painter, that
the merchant should share in his songs and dances, and the other young
man should arrange all the entertainments. They too received presents,
and left the house of the sheik with light hearts.

"Whom have we to thank for all this?" said they to one another; "whom
but the old man? Who could have foreseen all this, when we stood before
this house and declaimed against the sheik?"

"And how easily we might have been led into turning a deaf ear to the
discourses of the old man, or even into making sport of him? For he
looked so ragged and poor, who would have suspected that he was the
wise Mustapha?"

"And--wonderful coincidence--was it not here that we gave expression to
our wishes?" said the writer. "One would travel, another see singing
and dancing, the third have good company, and I----read and hear
stories; and are not all our wishes fulfilled? May I not read all the
sheik's books, and buy as many more as I choose?"

"And may not I arrange the banquets and superintend all his
entertainments, and be present at them myself?" said the other.

"And I, whenever my heart is desirous of hearing songs and stringed
instruments, may I not go and ask for his slaves?"

"And I," cried the painter; "until to-day I was poor, and could not set
foot outside the town; and now I can travel where I choose."

"Yes," repeated they all, "it was fortunate that we accompanied the old
man, else who knows what would have become of us?"

So they spoke and went cheerful and happy to their homes