Then I took leave of her and she sent a damsel to open the door to me；so I went forth and retuned to my own house，where I prayed the morning prayer and slept.
Presently，there came to me a messenger from the Khalif；so I went to him and passed the day in his company. When the night came，I called to mind my yesternights pleasure，a thing from which none but a fool could be content to abstain，and betook myself to the street，where I found the basket，and seating myself therein，was drawn up to the place in which I had passed the previous night. When the lady saw me，she said，'Indeed，thou art assiduous，'And I answered，'Meseems rather that I am neglectful.' Then we fell to conversing and passed the night as before in talking and reciting verses and telling rare stories，each in turn，till daybreak，when I returned home. I prayed the morning prayer and slept，and there came to me a messenger from Mamoun. So I went to him and spent the day with him till nightfall，when he said to me，'I conjure thee to sit here，whilst I go on an occasion and come back.' As soon as he was gone，my thoughts turned to the lady and calling to mind my late delight，I recked little what might befall me from the Commander of the Faithful. So I sprang up and going out，ran to the street aforesaid，where I sat down in the basket and was drawn up as before. When the lady saw me，she said，'Verily，thou art a sincere friend to us.'Yea，by Allah！' answered I；and she said，'Hath thou made our house thine abiding-place？'May I be thy ransom！' replied I.'A guest hath a right to three days entertainment，and if I return after this，ye are free to shed my blood.' Then we passed the night as before；and when the time of departure drew near，I bethought me that Mamoun would certainly question me nor be content save with a full explanation： so I said to her，'I see thee to be of those who delight in singing.
Now I have a cousin who is handsomer than I and higher of station and more accomplished；and he is the most intimate of all Gods creatures with Isaac.'Art thou a spunger？'asked she.'Verily，thou art importunate.' Quoth I，'It is for thee to decide；' and she，'If thy cousin be as thou sayst，it would not displease me to make his acquaintance.'
Then I left her and returned to my house，but hardly had I reached it，when the Khalifs messengers came down on me and carried me before him by main force. I found him seated on a chair，wroth with me，and he said to me，'O Isaac，art thou a traitor to thine allegiance？'No，by Allah，O Commander of the Faithful！' answered I.'What hast thou then to say？'asked he.
'Tell me the truth.' And I replied，'I will well；but in private.' So he signed to his attendants，who withdrew to a distance，and I told him the case，adding，'I promised to bring thee to visit her.' And he said，'Thou didst well.' Then we spent the day in our usual pleasures，but Mamouns heart was taken with the lady，and hardly was the appointed time come，when we set out. As we went along，I cautioned him，'Look that thou call me not by my name before her；but do thou sing and I will accompany thee.' He assented to this，and we fared on till we came to the house，where we found two baskets hanging ready. So we sat down in them and were drawn up to the usual place，where the damsel came forward and saluted us. When Mamoun saw her，he was amazed at her beauty and grace；and she began to entertain him with stories and verses. Presently，she called for wine and we fell to drinking，she paying him especial attention and delighting in him and he repaying her in kind. Then he took the lute and sang an air，after which she said to me，'And is thy cousin also a merchant？'Yes，'answered I，and she said，'Indeed，ye resemble one another nearly.' But when Mamoun had drunk three pints，he grew merry with wine and called out saying，'Ho，Isaac！'At thy service，O Commander of the Faithful，'answered I. Quoth he，'Sing me such an air.'
As soon as the lady knew that he was the Khalif，she withdrew to another place，and when I had made an end of my song，Mamoun said to me，'See who is the master of this house；' whereupon an old woman hastened to make answer，saying，'It belongs to Hassan ben Sehl.'[143]'Fetch him to me，'said the Khalif. So she went away and after awhile in came Hassan，to whom said Mamoun，'Hath thou a daughter？'Yes，'answered he；'her name is Khedijeh.'Is she married？'asked the Khalif.'No，by Allah！' replied Hassan.
'Then，'said Mamoun，'I ask her of thee in marriage.'
Commander of the Faithful，'replied Hassan，'she is thy handmaiden and at thy commandment.' Quoth Mamoun，'I take her to wife at a present dower of thirty thousand dinars，which thou shalt receive this very morning；and do thou being her to us this next night.' And Hassan answered，'I hear and obey.'
Then he went out，and the Khalif said to me，'O Isaac，tell this story to no one.' So I kept it secret till Mamouns death. Surely never was mans life to fulfilled with delights as was mine these four days time，whenan I companied with Mamoun by day and with Khedijeh by night；and by Allah，never saw I among men the like of Mamoun，neither among women have I ever set eyes on the like of Khedijeh，no，nor on any that came near her in wit and understanding and pleasant speech！'
