a glass she gave you; you fell asleep as before, and the same slave carried you home, and left the door open.  You have told me all that happened to you afterwards.  I never imagined that you could have suffered so much as you have done.  But as I have a great regard for you, I will do every thing to comfort you, and make you forget all your sufferings; think of what I can do to serve you, and ask me boldly what you wish.”

“Commander of the faithful,” replied Abou Hassan, “how great soever my tortures may have been, they are all blotted out of my remembrance, since I understand my sovereign lord and master had a share in them.  I doubt not in the least of your majesty’s bounty; but as interest never governed me, and you give me liberty to ask a favour, I beg that it may be that of having access to your person, to enjoy the happiness of admiring, all my lifetime, your virtues.”

This proof of disinterestedness in Abou Hassan confirmed the esteem the caliph had entertained for him.  “I am pleased with your request,” said he, “and grant you free access to my person at all times and all hours.”  At the same time he assigned him an apartment in the palace, and, in regard to his pension, told him, that he would not have him apply to his treasurer, but come always to him for an order upon him, and immediately commanded his private treasurer to give him a purse containing a thousand pieces of gold.  Abou Hassan made a low prostration, and the caliph left him to go to council.

Abou Hassan took this opportunity to go and inform his mother of his good fortune, and that what had happened was not a dream; for that he had actually been caliph, had acted as such, and received all the honours; and that she had no reason to doubt of it, since he had this confirmed by the caliph himself.

It was not long before this story of Abou Hassan was spread throughout Bagdad, and carried into all the provinces both far and near, without the omission of a single circumstance.

The new favourite Abou Hassan was always with the caliph; for, as he was a man of a pleasent temper, and created mirth wherever he went by his wit and drollery, the caliph formed no party of diversion without him, and sometimes carried him to visit his consort Zobeide, to whom he had related his story.  Zobeide, who observed that every time he came with the caliph, he had his eyes always fixed upon one of her slaves, called Nouzhatoul-aouadat, resolved to tell the caliph of it.  “Commander of the faithful,” said she one day, “you do not observe that every time Abou Hassan attends you in your visits to me, he never keeps his eyes off Nouzhatoul-aouadat, and makes her blush, which is almost a certain sign that she entertains no aversion for him.  If you approve of it, we will make a match between them.”

“Madam,” replied the caliph, “you remind me of what I ought to have done before.  I know Abou Hassan’s opinion respecting marriage from himself, and have always promised him a wife that should please him.  I am glad you mentioned the circumstance; for I know not how I came to forget it.  But it is better that Abou Hassan should follow his own inclination, and choose for himself.  If Nouzhatoul-aouadat is not averse to it, we ought not to hesitate upon their marriage; and since they are both present, they have only to say that they consent.”