Then the merchants mounted their mules and rode forward with the caravanwondering at the [number of] mules laden with chestswhilst their harems followed themwith Ali's harem，marvelling at the richness of the apparel of his wife and children and saying to each other'Verilythe King of Baghdad hath no such raimentnonor any other of the kings or merchants or notables.'So they entered Baghdad in great state and rode on till they came to Ali's housewhere they alighted and brought the mules and their burdens into the midst of the courtyard. Then they unloaded them and laid up the goods in the storehouseswhilst the merchants'wives went up with Ali's family to the saloonwhich they found as it were a luxuriant gardenspread with magnificent furniture. They sat in mirth and good cheer till noonwhen they brought them up the noon mealof all manner meats and sweetmeats of the best；and they ate and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves thereafter with rose-water and scented woods. Then they took leave and departedmen and women. When the merchants returned homethey all sent presents to Aliaccording to their conditions；and their wives likewise sent presents to his wife，so that there came to them great plenty of slavesblack and white and male and femaleand store of all manner goodssuch as grain and sugar and so forthbeyond count. As for the landlord of the househe abode with Ali and quitted him not，but said to him'Let the slaves and servants take the mules and the other cattle into one of my other housesto rest.'
Quoth Ali'They set out again to-night for such a place.'Then he gave them leave to go forth the citythat they might set out on their journey at nightfall；whereupon they took leave of him forthright and departing the cityflew off through the air to their several abodes.
Ali and the merchant sat together till a third of the night was pastwhen the latter returned to his own house and Ali went up to his wife and children and greeted themsaying，'What hath befallen you all this time？'So she told him what they had suffered of hunger and nakedness and toiland he said'Praised be God for safety！ How did ye come？'O my lord，'answered she'I was asleepwith my childrenyesternight，when suddenly one raised us from the ground and carried us through the airwithout doing us any hurtnor did he give over flying with ustill he set us down in a place as it were a Bedouin camping-placewhere we saw laden mules and a litter borne upon two great mulesand round them servantsboys and men. So I said to them'Who are ye and what are these loads and where are we？'And they answered'We are the servants of the merchant Ali ibn Hassan of Cairowho has sent us to fetch you to him at Baghdad.'Quoth I'Is it far or nearhence to Baghdad？'Near，'answered they；'there lies but the darkness of the night between us and the city.'Then they mounted us in the litterand on the morrowwe found ourselves with thee，without having suffered any hurt. 'Who gave you these clothes？'
asked heand she said'The chief of the caravan opened one of the chests on the mules and taking out the clothesclad me and the children each in a suit；after which he locked the chest and gave me the keysaying'Take care of ittill thou give it to thy husband.'And here it issafe.'So sayingshe gave him the keyand he said'Dost thou know the chest？'Yes，'answered she. So he took her down to the magazine and she pointed it outwhereupon he put the key in the lock and opened the chestin which he found much raiment and the keys of all the other chests. So he took them out and fell to opening the other chestsone after anotherand feasting his eyes upon the jewels and precious metals they containedwhose like was not found with any of the kings；after which he locked them again and took the keyssaying to his wife'This is of the bounty of God the Most High.'
Then he returned with her to the saloon and bringing her to the secret panelpressed the knob and opened the door of the closet into which he entered with her and showed her the gold he had laid up there. Quoth she'Whence hadst thou all this？'
'It came to me by the grace of my Lord，'answered he and told her all that had befallen himfrom first to last. 'O my lord，'
said she'all this comes of the blessing of thy father's prayerswhenas he prayed for theebefore his deathsaying，'I beseech God to cast thee into no straitexcept He bring thee speedy deliverance [therefrom]！'So praised be God the Most High for that He hath brought thee relief and hath requited thee with more than thou didst lose！ But God on thee，O my lordreturn not to thy sometime fashion and companying with folk of lewd life；but look thou fear God the Most High，both in public and private！'And she went on to admonish him.
Quoth he'I accept thine admonition and beg God the Most High to remove the wicked from us and stablish us in His obedience and in the observance of the law of His Propheton whom be peace and salvation！'
Ali and his wife and children were now in all delight of life and gladness；and he opened him a shop in the merchants'bazaar and stocking it with jewels and precious metalssat therein with his children and servants. He soon became the most considerable of the merchants of Baghdadand his report reached the King of that citywho sent a messenger to command his attendance. So he took four trays of red gold and filling them with jewels and precious metalssuch as no king possessedwent up to the palace and presenting himself before the princekissed the earth before him and wished him continuance of glory and prosperityin the best words he could command. 'O merchant，'said the King'thou honourest our city with thy presence；'and Ali rejoinedsaying'O King of the agethy slave hath brought thee a present and hopes for acceptance thereof from thy favour.'
