"That is true," thought the young man, and he immediately asked his sack to furnish him with two magnificent suits, such as were worn by the noblemen of that country. He gave one to the unfortunate beggar at his side and clad himself in the other, and the two went into the city resplendent with gold and precious stones, so that everyone thought that two rich and powerful noblemen had come into the city. Soon the name of Abdallah was on everybody's tongue, and the most brilliant people of the city considered it an honor to call themselves his friends. In that city Abdallah found an Evil Spirit, which presented itself to him one day and said: "Magnanimous chief, the most respectful of your admirers is here before you." "What do you desire?" inquired Abdallah. "I want nothing," said the Evil Spirit, "but your reputation at the games is such that I desired to see you." "You flatter me a great deal," said Abdallah; "but, really, I cannot play. The game is entirely unknown to me. However," he went on to say, "I desire to make one of your party in the hope that you will teach me something about the games." The Evil Spirit and Abdallah made no delay in beginning the game, and the latter lost such large sums of money that the Evil Spirit thought that the young man was ruined. Contented with himself and satisfied with the results of his journey, he was making ready to depart, when Abdallah saw the cloven foot that the Evil Spirit had not been able to disguise. "Ah, ha!" exclaimed Abdallah to himself. "It is with the Evil One I have been playing. So much the better! I will show him that he made a mistake when he addressed himself to me." Satisfied with his discovery, the fortunate possessor of the sack and the wonderful stick was content to wait until the next day. Faithful to the engagement that had been made, the young man found himself on the morrow face to face with the Evil One. The game began, Abdallah lost many gold pieces, and still he continued to lose. This time the Evil Spirit won so rapidly and so continuously that he believed Abdallah was reduced to misery. Addressing himself to the young man, he exclaimed: "Illustrious lord, the games of these last two days must have made a considerable hole in your fortunes. Through me, however, you can recover a good part of it; but on one condition only." "What condition is that?" inquired Abdallah. "Let us understand each other. Let us become partners, and thus we can win all the money that the other players have." But Abdallah would not permit the Evil Spirit to conclude his proposition. "Satan!" cried he, "your elegant disguise has not prevented me from recognizing you, and your cloven foot has betrayed you. The gold you have taken from me is nothing to that which I still possess. Had you won all the money in the world, I would not be less rich. However, the day has arrived when you must expiate all your vile crimes. The hour has struck!"