stined to become better acquainted.

Not long after the Caliph and his companion had entered and seated
themselves, one of these two men by a glance drew the attention of his
friend to the new-comers, and they began very shortly a dispute, which
appeared to wax very warm indeed, respecting the merits of two female
slaves which they possessed, and as to the pre-eminence of whose rival
attractions they were quite unable to agree. They vociferated and
gesticulated and appeared to get so angry with each other, that in
their mutual fury they seemed ready to tear each other to pieces.

At length the Caliph interposed with a good-humoured smile, and said--

"Gentlemen, if you will pardon a stranger for interfering in your
dispute, I would suggest that the best and most effectual mode of
deciding as to the relative merits and value of your two slaves would
be to call in some disinterested man as umpire between you. Now I and
my friend are merchants, not only very well qualified to judge of the
beauty and accomplishments of your slaves, but also quite ready to
offer you a good price for them, because, as we have the entrance to
the palace of the Caliph, the Grand Vizier, and other great personages,
we are in a position to bring them to the very best market, and obtain
a higher price for them than any one else."

The two merchants who had acted their parts in the pretended quarrel
with no other object than to elicit some such proposal, now willingly
accepted it.

"Come with us then," they exclaimed, "and your verdict shall decide our
dispute. The slave for whom you are willing to bid the highest price,
she shall be judged to be incontestably the better."

On this the two merchants rose, and conducting the Caliph and Giafer
through many narrow streets and lanes in a part of the town they did
not remember to have been in before, they stopped at length before a
great gateway, on the door of which they gave three peculiar knocks.
The door was opened by a huge black African slave, who grinned horribly
as he saw his masters and the two strangers, and who, having admitted
them, carefully closed and fastened the door behind them.

They were ushered at first into a large room, having a wide and
handsome divan, on which the merchants begged them to be seated.
Another African slave, as large, black, and, if possible, even more
hideous than the first, brought them refreshments and sweetmeats,
together with silver goblets, into whic