ayings are stored therein?"
continued Giaffar.

"Counsel avails not," replied the caliph; "the records of the past will
not suffice to banish the cares of the present."

"Then," said the vizier, "will the Light of the world seek refuge from
his troubles in a disguise, and go forth with the humblest of his slaves
to witness the condition of his people?"

"Thou hast said well," replied the caliph; "I will go with thee into the
bazaar, and witness, unknown, the amusements of my people after the
labours of the day."

Mesrour, the chief eunuch, was at hand, and hastened for the needful
disguises. After having clad themselves as merchants of Moussul, and
tinged their faces of an olive hue, the caliph, accompanied by Giaffar
and Mesrour, the latter armed with a scimitar, issued forth from the
secret door of the seraglio. Giaffar, who knew from experience the
quarter likely to prove most fertile in adventure, led the caliph past
the mosque of Zobeide, and crossing the Bridge of Boats over the Tigris,
continued his way to that part of the city on the Mesopotamian side of
the river, which was inhabited by the wine-sellers and others, who
administered to the irregularities, as well as to the wants, of the good
people of Bagdad. For a short time they wandered up and down without
meeting anybody; but passing through a narrow alley, their steps were
arrested by the sound of a most potent pair of lungs, carolling forth a
jovial song. The caliph waited awhile, in expectation of its ceasing;
but he might apparently have waited until dawn of day, for verse was
poured forth after verse; a small interval between them filled up by the
musical gurgling of liquor from a bottle, and the gulps of the votary of
Bacchus. At length, his patience being exhausted, the caliph ordered
Mesrour to knock loudly at the singer's dwelling. Hearing the noise,
the fellow opened the jalousie, and came out into the verandah above.
Looking down, and perceiving the three interrupters of his mirth, he
bawled out--"What rascals are you that disturb an honest man at his
devotions?--Begone!--fly!--away with you, scum of the earth!"

"Truly, charitable sir," replied Giaffar in a humble tone, "we are
distressed merchants, strangers in this city, who have lost our way, and
fear to be seized by the watch--perhaps carried before the cadi. We
beseech thee, therefore, to admit us within thy doors, and Allah will
reward thy humanity."

"Admit you within my door