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Now the cause of that knocking, O King (quoth Shahrazad) was

this, the Caliph, Harun al-Rashid, had gone forth from the

palace, as was his wont now and then, to solace himself in the

city that night, and to see and hear what new thing was stirring;

he was in merchant's gear, and he was attended by Ja'afar, his

Wazir, and by Masrur his Sworder of Vengeance.[FN#172] As they

walked about the city, their way led them towards the house of

the three ladies; where they heard the loud noise of musical

instruments and singing and merriment; so quoth the Caliph to

Ja'afar, "I long to enter this house and hear those songs and see

who sing them." Quoth Ja'afar, "O Prince of the Faithful; these

folk are surely drunken with wine, and I fear some mischief

betide us if we get amongst them." "There is no help but that I

go in there," replied the Caliph, "and I desire thee to contrive

some pretext for our appearing among them." Ja'afar replied, "I

hear and I obey;"[FN#173] and knocked at the door, whereupon the

portress came out and opened.