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surely it befitteth not fellows who come to us like paupers to

wag your tongues at us." "We crave thy pardon, O Fakir,"[FN#170]

rejoined they, "and our heads are between thy hands." The ladies

laughed consumedly at the squabble; and, making peace between the

Kalandars and the Porter, seated the new guests before meat and

they ate.

Then they sat together, and the portress served them with drink;

and, as the cup went round merrily, quoth the Porter to the

askers, "And you, O brothers mine, have ye no story or rare

adventure to amuse us withal?" Now the warmth of wine having

mounted to their heads they called for musical instruments; and

the portress brought them a tambourine of Mosul, and a lute of

Irak, and a Persian harp; and each mendicant took one and tuned

it; this the tambourine and those the lute and the harp, and

struck up a merry tune while the ladies sang so lustily that

there was a great noise.[FN#171] And whilst they were carrying

on, behold, some one knocked at the gate, and the portress went

to see what was the matter there.