Having returned our grateful acknowledgments to God for having thus brought us together, we resolved to preserve our freedom, and never again to separate.  We have now long enjoyed this tranquil life.  As it was my business to manage the affairs of the house, I always took pleasure in going myself to purchase what we wanted.  I happened to go abroad yesterday for this purpose, and the things I bought I caused to be carried home by a porter, who proving to be a sensible and jocose fellow, we kept with us for a little diversion.  Three calenders happened to come to our door as it began to grow dark, and prayed us to give them shelter till the next morning We admitted them upon certain conditions which they agreed to observe; and after we had made them sit at table with us, they in their own way entertained us with a concert of music.  At this time we heard knocking at our gate.  This proceeded from three merchants of Moussol, men of good appearance, who begged the same favour which the calenders had obtained before.  We consented upon the same conditions, but neither of them kept their promise.  Though we had power, as well as justice on our side, to punish them, yet we contented ourselves with demanding from them the history of their lives; and afterwards confined our revenge to dismissing them, after they had done, and denying them the asylum they requested.

The caliph was well pleased to be thus informed of what he desired to know; and publicly expressed his admiration of what he had heard.

The caliph having satisfied his curiosity, thought himself obliged to shew his generosity to the calender princes, and also to give the three ladies some proof of his bounty.  He himself, without making use of his minister, the grand vizier, spoke to Zobeide.  “Madam, did not this fairy, that shewed herself to you in the shape of a serpent, and imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her place of abode was?  Or rather, did she not promise to see you, and restore those bitches to their natural shape?”

“Commander of the faithful,” answered Zobeide, “I forgot to tell your majesty that the fairy left with me a bundle of hair, saying, that her presence would one day be of use to me; and then, if I only burnt two tufts of this hair, she would be with me in a moment, though she were beyond mount Caucasus.”  “Madam,” demanded the caliph, “where is the bundle of hair?” She answered, “Ever since that time I have been so careful of it, that I always carry it about me.”  Upon which she pulled it out, opened the case which contained it, and shewed it to him.  “Well then,” said the caliph, “let us bring the fairy hither; you could not call her in a better time, for I long to see her.”

Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the whole bundle of hair into it.  The palace at that instant began to shake, and the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a lady very richly dressed.