On hearing these [last words], the khwaja’s mind and senses were quite discomposed, and he exclaimed, “O, my son, do not speak to me of such a thing;” stay some days with me in my humble abode; pray tell me where are your goods, and your servants?” The young merchant replied, “The traveller’s abode is the sara,e; [274] leaving them there, I came to see you.”  The khwaja said, “It is unbecoming [a person of your consideration] to dwell in the sara,e I have some reputation in this city, and much celebrity; send quickly for your baggage, &c.; I will prepare a house for your goods; let me see whatever commodities you have brought; I will so manage it, that you will get here great profit on them.  At the same time, you will be at your ease, and saved the danger and fatigue [of travelling any farther for a market], and by staying with me a few days you will greatly oblige me.”  The young merchant pretended [275] to make some excuses, but the khwaja would not accept them, and ordered one of his agents, saying, “Send quickly some burden-bearers, and bring the goods, &c., from the caravanserai and lodge them in such a place.”

The young merchant likewise sent a slave of his own with [the agent] to bring the property and merchandise; and he himself remained with the khwaja until the evening.  When the time of [the afternoon] market had elapsed, and the shop was shut, the khwaja went towards his house.  Then one of the two slaves took the dog up under his arm, and the other took up the stool and carpet; and the two negro slaves placed the two cages on the heads of porters, and they themselves, accoutred with the five weapons, [276] went alongside of them.  The khwaja took hold of the young merchant’s hand, and conversing with him, reached his house.

The young merchant saw that the house was grand, and fit for kings or nobles [to reside in].  Carpets were spread on the border of a rivulet, and before the masnad the different articles for the entertainment were laid out.  The dog’s stool was placed there also, and the khwaja and young merchant took their seats; he presented to him some wine without ceremony; they both began to drink.  When they got merry, the khwaja called for dinner; the dastar-khwan [277] was spread, and the good things of the world were laid out.  First they put some meat in a dish, and having covered it with a cover of gold, they carried it to the dog, and having spread an embroidered dastar-khwan, they laid the dish before him.  The dog descended from his stool, ate as much as he liked, and drank some water out of a golden bowl, then returned and sat on his stool.  The slaves wiped his mouth and feet with a napkin, and then carried the dish and bowl to the two cages, and having asked for the keys from the khwaja, they opened the locks.