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tales and anecdotes and entertaining stories, whereof never heard any the like; and I am running to get a place near him and fear I shall find no room, because of the much people.’ Quoth the stranger, ‘Take me with thee.’ And the young man said, ‘Make haste.’
So he shut his door and hastened with him to the place of recitation, where he saw an old man of a bright countenance seated on a stool, holding forth to the people. He sat down near him and addressed himself to listen to his story, till the going down of the sun, when the old man made an end of his tale and the people dispersed from about him; whereupon the messenger accosted him and saluted him, and he returned his salutation and greeted him with the utmost honour and courtesy. Then said the messenger to him, ‘O my lord sheikh, thou art a comely and reverend man, and thy discourse is goodly; but I would fain ask thee of somewhat.’ ‘Ask of what thou wilt,’ replied the old man. Then said the other, ‘Hast thou the story of Seif el Mulouk and Bediya el Jemal?’ ‘And who told thee of this story?’ asked the old man. ‘None told me of it,’ answered the messenger; ‘but I am come from a far country, in quest of this story, and if thou have it and wilt, of thy bounty and charity, impart it to me and make it an alms to me, of the generosity of thy nature, I will pay thee whatever thou askest for its price; for, had I my life in my hand and sacrificed it to thee for this thing, yet were it pleasing to my heart.’ ‘Be of good cheer,’ replied the old man; ‘thou shalt have it; but this is no story that one telleth in the beaten way, nor do I give it to every one.’ ‘By Allah, O my lord,’ cried the other, ‘do not grudge it me, but ask of me what price thou wilt.’ ‘If thou wish for the story,’ replied the old man, ‘give me a hundred dinars and thou shalt have it; but upon five conditions.’
When the messenger knew that the old man had the
