“What,” said Cassim’s wife, as soon as her sister-in-law had left her, “has Ali Baba gold in such plenty that he measures it?  Whence has he all this wealth?” And envy possessed her breast.

When Cassim came home she said to him, “Cassim, you think yourself rich, but Ali Baba is much richer.  He does not count his money; he measures it.”  Then she explained to him how she had found it out, and they looked together at the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what prince’s reign it was coined.

Cassim, since marrying the rich widow, had never treated Ali Baba as a brother, but neglected him.  Now, instead of being pleased, he was filled with a base envy.  Early in the morning, after a sleepless night, he went to him and said, “Ali Baba, you pretend to be wretchedly poor, and yet you measure gold.  My wife found this at the bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday.”

Ali Baba saw that there was no use of trying to conceal his good fortune, and told the whole story, offering his brother part of the treasure to keep the secret.

“I expect as much,” replied Cassim haughtily; “but I must know just where this treasure is and how to visit myself when I choose.  Otherwise I will inform against you, and you will lose even what you have now.”

Ali Baba told him all he wished to know, even to the words he must speak at the door of the cave.

Cassim rose before the sun the next morning, and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests which he meant to fill.  With little trouble he found the rock and the door, and, standing before it, spoke the words, “Open, Sesame.”  The door opened at once, and when he was within closed upon him.  Here indeed were the riches of which his brother had told.  He quickly brought as many bags of gold as he could carry to the door of the cavern; but his thoughts were so full of his new wealth that he could not think of the word that should let him out.  Instead of “Sesame,” he said, “Open, Barley,” and was much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut.  He named several sorts of grain, but still the door would not open.

Cassim had never expected such a disaster, and was so frightened that the more he tried to recall the word “Sesame,” the more confused his mind became.  It was as if he had never heard the word at all.  He threw down the bags in his hands, and walked wildly up and down, without a thought of the riches lying round about him.

At noon the robbers visited their cave.  From afar they saw Cassim’s mules straggling about the rock, and galloped full speed to the cave.  Driving the mules out of sight, they went at once, with their naked sabres in their hands, to the door, which opened as soon as the captain had spoken the proper words before it.

Cassim had heard the noise of the horses’ feet, and guessed that the robbers had come.  He resolved to make one effort for his life.  As soon as the door opened, he rushed out and threw the leader down, but could not pass the other robbers, who with their scimitars soon put him to death.