It would have been a great piece of incivility in Scheich Ibrahim to refuse this favour, after what he had already done: moreover, he considered that the caliph not having given him notice, according to his usual custom, it was likely he would not be there that night, and therefore resolved to treat his guests, and sup with them in the pavilion. He laid the provisions on the first step, while he went to his apartment for the key: he soon returned with a light, and opened the door.
Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian entered the hall, and were never tired with admiring the beauty and richness of the place. Indeed, without saying anything of the pictures. which were admirably well drawn, the sofas were very noble and costly; and besides lustres suspended from every arch, there was between each a silver branch supporting a wax candle. Noor ad Deen could not behold these glorious objects without recollecting his former splendour, and sighing.
In the mean time Scheich Ibrahim was getting supper ready; and the cloth being laid upon a sofa, and every thing in order, Noor ad Deen, the fair Persian, and he sat down and ate together. When supper was finished, and they had washed their hands, Noor ad Deen opened a lattice, and calling the fair Persian to him, "Come hither," said he, "and with me admire the charming prospect and beauty of the garden by moon-light; nothing can be more agreeable." She came to him; and they both enjoyed the view, while Scheich Ibrahim was busy in taking away the cloth.
When Scheich Ibrahim came to his guests again, Noor ad Deen asked him whether he had any liquor to treat them with. "What liquor would you have?" replied Scheich Ibrahim—"Sherbet? I have the best in the world; but sherbet, you know, my son, is never drunk after supper."
"I know that very well," said Noor ad Deen; "it is not sherbet, but another sort of liquor that we ask you for, and I am surprised at your not understanding me." "It is wine then you mean?" said Scheich Ibrahim. "You guess right," replied Noor ad Deen, "and if you have any, oblige us with a bottle: you know a bottle after supper is a very proper companion to spend the hours with till bed-time."
"Heaven defend me from keeping wine in my house," cried Scheich Ibrahim, "and from ever coming to a place where any is found! A man who, like me, has been a pilgrimage four times to Mecca, has renounced wine for ever."
"You would do us a singular kindness," said Noor ad Deen, "in getting a little for our own drinking; and if it be not too much trouble, I will put you in a way how you may do it, without going into a vintner's shop, or so much as laying your hand upon the vessel that contains it." "Upon that condition I will do it," replied Scheich Ibrahim, "only let me know what I am to do."
"Why then," said Noor ad Deen, "we just now saw an ass tied at the entrance of your garden, which certainly must be yours, and which you may make use of in this extremity: here are two pieces of gold more; take them, and lead your ass with the panniers to the next vintner's; you may stand at as great a distance as you please, do but give something to the first person that comes by, and desire him to go with your ass, and procure two pitchers of wine; put one in one pannier, in another, another, which he must pay for out of the money you give him, and so let him bring the ass back to you: you will have nothing to do, but to drive the beast hither before you; we will take the wine out of the panniers: by this means you will do nothing that will give you any scruple."
The two last pieces of gold that Scheich Ibrahim was going to receive wrought wonderfully upon his mind. "Ah! my son," cried he, "you have an excellent contrivance; and had it not been for your invention, I should never have thought of this way of getting you some wine without any scruple of conscience." Away he went to execute the orders, which he did in a little time; and, upon his return, Noor ad Deen taking the pitchers out of the panniers, carried them into the hall.
Scheich Ibrahim having led the ass to the place from whence he took him, came back again, "Scheich Ibrahim," said Noor ad Deen, "we cannot enough thank you for the trouble we have already given you; but we want something yet." "What is that? "replied Scheich: "what more service can I do you?" "We have no cups to drink out of," said Noor ad Deen, "and a little fruit, if you had any, would be very acceptable." "Do but say what you have a mind to," replied Scheich Ibrahim, "and you shall have every thing to your heart's content."