Now God（blessed and exalted be He）inclined to him the heart of one of the merchantsso that he took him with himand Ali ate and drank with himtill they came within one day's journey of Baghdadwhere a company of highwaymen fell upon the caravan and took all they had. But few of the merchants escaped and these made each for a [separate] place of refuge. As for Ali，he made for Baghdadwhere he arrived at sundownas the gatekeepers were about to shut the gatesand said to them'Let me in with you.'So they admitted him and asked him whence he came and whither he was bound. 'I am a man from the city of Cairo，'replied he'and have with me mules laden with merchandise and slaves and servants. I forewent themto look me out a place wherein to deposit my goods；but as I rode along on my mulethere fell upon me a company of highway robbers，who took my mule and gear；nor did I escape from them but at the last gasp.'The warders entreated him hospitably and bade him welcomesaying'Abide with us this nightand in the morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee.'Then he sought in his pocket and finding a dinar remaining of those he had gotten of the merchant at Boulacgave it to one of the gatekeeperssaying'Take this and change it and bring us something to eat.'The man took it and went to the market，where he changed it and brought Ali bread and cooked meat. So he atehe and the gatekeepersand he lay the night with them.
On the morrowone of the warders carried him to a merchant of the townto whom he told the same storyand he believed him，deeming that he was a merchant and had with him loads of merchandise. So he took him up into his shop and entreated him with honour. Moreoverhe sent to his house for a splendid suit of his own apparel for him and carried him to the bath. So，[quoth Ali]I went with him to the bathand when we came out，he brought me to his housewhere he caused set the morning-meal before usand we ate and made merry.
Then said he to one of his slaves'HarkyeMesoudtake this thy lord and show him the two houses in such a place. Whichever pleases him of themgive him the key of it and come back.'So I went with the slavetill we came to a place where stood three housesside by sidenew and shut up. He opened the first and the secondand I looked at them；after which he said to me'Of which of them shall I give thee the key？'To whom does yon large house belong？'asked I. 'To us，'answered he；and I said'Open itthat I may view it.'Quoth he'Thou hast no call to it.'Wherefore？'asked I；and he'Because it is hauntedand none lodges there but in the morning he is a dead man；nor do we use to open the doorto take out the corpse，but mount the roof of one of the other two houses and take it up thence. For this reasonmy master has abandoned the house and says'I will never again give it to any one.'Quoth I，'Open itthat I may view it；'and I said in myself'This is what I seek. I will pass the night there and in the morning be a dead man and be at peace from this miserable plight of mine.'
So he opened it and I entered and found it a splendid house，without its like；and I said to the slave'I will have none other than this house；give me the key.'But he answered'I will not give thee this key till I consult my master，'and going to the lattersaid to him'The Egyptian merchant saith，'I will lodge in none but the great house.'
When the merchant heard thishe rose and coming to Alisaid to him'O my lordthou hast no need of this house.'But he replied'I will lodge in none other than this；for I care nothing for this saying.'Then，'said the other，'write me an acknowledgment thatif aught happen to theeI am not responsible.'So be it，'answered Ali；whereupon the merchant fetched an assessor from the Cadi's court and taking of him the prescribed acknowledgmentdelivered him the key，which he took and entered the house. The merchant sent him bedding by a slavewho spread it for him on the bench behind the door and went away. Presently Ali went into the inner court and seeing there a well with a bucketlet down the latter and drew waterwith which he made the ablution and prayed the obligatory prayers. Then he sat awhiletill the merchant's slave brought him the evening meal from his master's house，together with a lampa candle and candlesticka basin and ewer and a gugglet；after which he left him and returned home.
Ali lighted the candle and supped at his ease and prayed the evening prayer；after which he said to himself'Let us take the bed and go upstairs and sleep thererather than here.'So he took the bed and carried it upstairswhere he found a splendid saloonwith gilded ceiling and walls and floor of variegated marble. He spread his bed there and sitting down，began to recite somewhat of the sublime Koranwhen suddenly he heard one calling to him and saying'O AliO son of Hassan，shall I send thee down the gold？'And he answered'Send away.'
Hardly had he spokenwhen pieces of gold began to rain down on himlike [pebbles from] a mangonelnor stinted till the saloon was full. Then said the voice'Set me freethat I may go my way；for I have made an end of my service and have delivered unto thee that which was committed to me for thee.'
