Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (13)

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (13)

In a little while he returned to the city. rented a shop and became a cloth  merchant, calling himself Cogia Houssain.

He made it his business to become very friendly with Ali Baba"s son.

He was extremely courteous to the young man, and fianlly succeeded inbeing invited to his father's house.

Ali Baba invited his son's new friend to stay for dinner, but the man refused.

" Why do you refuse ? "

" It is because I can only eat food without salt, and this creates too much trouble for the poeple who invite me, " said the phoney merchant.

" That makes no differrence to me ! " cried Ali Baba.
" I can offer you a meal without salt. Come on ! I beg you ! Do me the honor and stay. "

The man then accepted.

Morgiane was annoyed that she had to start all over again, preparing food without salt, but she did as she was asked.

She thought the guest must be a very strange man to make such demands.

Under the pretext of helping Abdalla, she served at the table so that she could have a look at the stranger.

Morgiane was more perceptive than Ali Baba.

She recognized the cruel leader of the thieves straight away, even though he was disguised as a cloth merchant.

She saw the knife he was hiding under his clothes and devised a very bold plan.
  
(13/16)