"
Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour,
and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate your adventures;
therefore speak."
The grand vizier, who had all along been the spokesman, answered
Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we
have already said to the fair lady who opened for us the door. We are
merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the
khan[26] where we lodge. We dined to-day with several other persons of
our condition, at a merchant's house of this city; who, after he had
treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and
women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the
watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune
to escape. But it being already late, and the door of our khan shut
up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced, as we passed along this
street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock
at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in
obedience to your commands."
[Footnote 26: "Khan, or caravansary, a large building of a
quadrangular form, being one story in height. The ground floor serves
for warehouses and stables, while the upper is used for lodgings. They
always contain a fountain, and have cook shops and other conveniences
attached to them in town. The erection of them is considered
meritorious both among Hindus and Mussulmans.
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