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en he stood up and said to the porter； 'So God the Most High enable me； I will surely requite thee thy kindness to me； but none requiteth save God of His bounty！' Praised be He for thy recovery！' answered the porter。 'I dealt not thus with thee but of desire for the favour of God the Bountiful。'
Then the barber went forth of the khan and walked about the markets of the town； till chance brought him to that wherein was Aboukir's dyery； and he saw the varicoloured stuffs spread before the shop and the people crowding to look upon them。 So he questioned one of the townsmen and said to him； 'What place is this and how es it that I see the folk crowding together？' And the man answered； saying； 'This is the Sultan's dyery； which he set up for a foreigner； by name Aboukir； and whenever he dyes a ＇new＇ piece of stuff we all flock to him and divert ourselves by gazing upon his handiwork； for that we have no dyers in our land who know how to dye these colours； and indeed there befell him with the dyers who are in the city thus and thus。' And he went on to tell him all that had passed between Aboukir and the dyers and how he had plained of them to the sultan and he had taken him by the hand and built him that dyery and given him this and that； brief； he told him all that had passed。
At this the barber rejoiced and said to himself； 'Praised be God who hath prospered him； so that he is bee a master of his craft！ Indeed； the man is excusable； for of a surety he hath been diverted from thee by his work and hath fotten thee； but thou didst him kindness and entreatedst him generously； what time he was out of work； so； when he seeth thee； he will rejoice in thee and entreat thee generously； even as thou entreatedst him。' So he made for the door of the dyery and saw Aboukir seated on a high divan in the doorway； clad in royal apparel and attended by four black and four white slaves all dressed in the richest of clothes。 Moreover； he saw the workmen； ten black slaves； standing at work； for； when Aboukir bought them； he taught them the craft of dyeing； and he himself sat amongst his cushions； as he were a grand vizier or a most mighty king； putting his hand to nought； but only saying to the men； 'Do this and do that。'
The barber went up to him and stood before him； doubting not but that； when he saw him； he would rejoice in him and salute him and entreat him with honour and make much of him； but； when eye met eye； the dyer said to him； 'O rascal； how many a time have I bidden thee stand not at the door of this workshop？ Hast thou a mind to disgrace me with the folk； knave that thou art？' ＇And he cried out； saying＇； 'Seize him！' So the slave。 ran at him and laid hold of him； and the dyer said； 'Throw him down。' So they threw him down and Aboukfr rose and taking a stick； dealt him a hundred blows on the back； after which they turned him over and he dealt him other hundred on his belly。 Then he said to him； 'Hark ye； scurril knave that thou art！ If ever again I see thee standing at the door of this dyery； I will forthwith send thee to the king； and he will mit thee to the master of police； that he may strike off thy head。 Begone； may God not bless thee！'
So Abousir ＇arose and＇ departed from him； brokenhearted by reason of the beating and humiliation that had betided him； whilst the bystanders said to Aboukir； 'What hath this man done？' Quoth he； 'He is a thief； who steals the people's goods： he hath robbed me of stuffs； how many a time！ and I still said in myself； 〃God five him！ He is a poor man；〃 and cared not to deal harshly with him； so I used to give the folk the worth of their goods and forbid him gently； but he would not be forbidden； and if he e again； I will send him to the king； who will put him to death and rid the folk of his mischief。' And the bystanders fell to reviling the barber in his absence。
Meanwhile； the latter returned to the khan； where he sat pondering that which Aboukir had done with him； till the pain of the beating subsided； when he went out and walked about the markets of the city。 Presently； he bethought him to go to the bath； so he said to one of the townsfolk； 'O my brother； which is the way to the bath？〃 'And what manner of thing is the bath？' asked the other。 Quoth Abousir； 'It is a place where people wash themselves and do away their defilements； and it is of the best of the good things of the world。' 'Get thee to the sea；' replied the townsman； but the barber replied； 'I want the bath。' Quoth the other； 'We know not what manner of thing is the bath； for we all resort to the sea； even the king； when he would wash； betaketh himself to the sea。'
When Abousir was certified that there was no bath in the city and that the people knew not the bath nor the fashion thereof he betook himself to the king's divan and kissing the earth before him； called down blessings on him and said； 'I am a stranger and a bathkeeper by trade； and I entered thy city and thought to go to the bath； but found not one therein。 How eth a city of this ely fashion to lack a bath； seeing that the bath is of the goodliest of the delights of this world？' Quoth the king； 'What manner of thing is the bath？' So Abousir proceeded to set forth to him the attributes of the bath； saying； 'Thy city will not be plete till there be a bath in it。' 'Wele to thee！' said the king and clad him in a dress that had not its like and gave him a horse and two black and two white slaves and four slavegirls。 Moreover he appointed him a furnished house and honoured him yet more abundantly than he had honoured the dyer。
Then he sent builders with him and bade them build him a bath in what place soever should please him。 So he took them and went with them through the midst of the city； till he saw a place that pleased him。 He pointed it out to the builders and they set to work； under his direction； and wrought till they built him a bath that had not its like。 Then he made them paint it； and they painted it on rare wise； so that it was a delight to the beholders； after which Abousir went up to the king and told him that they had made an end of building and decorating the bath； adding； 'There lacks nought but the furniture。' The king gave him ten thousand dinars； with which he furnished the bath and ranged the napkins on the cords； and all who passed by the door stared at it and their mind was confounded at its decorations。 So the people crowded to this thing； whose like they had never in their lives seen； and stood staring at it and saying； 'What is this thing？' To which Abousir replied； 'This is a bath；' and they marvelled thereat。
Then he heated water and set the bath awork； and he made a fountain in the ＇central＇ basin； which ravished the wit of all who saw it of the people of the city。 Moreover he sought of the king ten white slaves not yet e to manhood； and he gave him ten boys like moons： whereupon Abousir proceeded to shampoo them； saying； 'Do thus and thus with the customers；' ＇till they were perfect in the bathman's craft＇。 Then he burnt perfumes and sent out a crier to cry aloud in the city； saying； 'O creatures of God； get ye to the bath； for it is called the Sultan's Bath！' So the people came to the bath and Abousir bade the slaveboys wash their bo