Now God（blessed and exalted be He）inclined to him the heart of one of the merchantsso that he took him with himand Ali ate and drank with himtill they came within one day's journey of Baghdadwhere a company of highwaymen fell upon the caravan and took all they had. But few of the merchants escaped and these made each for a [separate] place of refuge. As for Ali，he made for Baghdadwhere he arrived at sundownas the gatekeepers were about to shut the gatesand said to them'Let me in with you.'So they admitted him and asked him whence he came and whither he was bound. 'I am a man from the city of Cairo，'replied he'and have with me mules laden with merchandise and slaves and servants. I forewent themto look me out a place wherein to deposit my goods；but as I rode along on my mulethere fell upon me a company of highway robbers，who took my mule and gear；nor did I escape from them but at the last gasp.'The warders entreated him hospitably and bade him welcomesaying'Abide with us this nightand in the morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee.'Then he sought in his pocket and finding a dinar remaining of those he had gotten of the merchant at Boulacgave it to one of the gatekeeperssaying'Take this and change it and bring us something to eat.'The man took it and went to the market，where he changed it and brought Ali bread and cooked meat. So he atehe and the gatekeepersand he lay the night with them.
On the morrowone of the warders carried him to a merchant of the townto whom he told the same storyand he believed him，deeming that he was a merchant and had with him loads of merchandise. So he took him up into his shop and entreated him with honour. Moreoverhe sent to his house for a splendid suit of his own apparel for him and carried him to the bath. So，[quoth Ali]I went with him to the bathand when we came out，he brought me to his housewhere he caused set the morning-meal before usand we ate and made merry.