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But we stopped him and our host also stayed him, making oath that

he should not leave us and asked him, "What is the reason of thy

coming in and going out again at once?"; whereto he answered, "By

Allah, O my lord, do not hinder me; for the cause of my turning

back is yon Barber of bad omen,[FN#602] yon black o'face, yon

ne'er do well!" When the housemaster heard these words he

marvelled with extreme marvel and said, "How cometh this young

man, who haileth from Baghdad, to be so troubled and perplexed

about this Barber?" Then we looked at the stranger and said,

"Explain the cause of thine anger against the Barber." "O fair

company," quoth the youth, "there befell me a strange adventure

with this Barber in Baghdad (which is my native city); he was the

cause of the breaking of my leg and of my lameness, and I have

sworn never to sit in the same place with him, nor even tarry in

any town where he happens to abide; and I have bidden adieu to

Baghdad and travelled far from it and came to stay in this your

city; yet I have hardly passed one night before I meet him again.