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The Caliph thanked her and said in himself,"By Allah, I will

recompense her tomorrow for the kind deed she hath done." The

others again addressed themselves to conversing and carousing;

and, when the wine gat the better of them, the eldest lady who

ruled the house rose and making obeisance to them took the

cateress by the hand, and said, "Rise, O my sister and let us do

what is our devoir." Both answered "Even so!" Then the portress

stood up and proceeded to remove the table service and the

remnants of the banquet; and renewed the pastiles and cleared the

middle of the saloon. Then she made the Kalandars sit upon a sofa

at the side of the estrade, and seated the Caliph and Ja'afar and

Masrur on the other side of the saloon; after which she called

the Porter, and said, "How scanty is thy courtesy!