more to go
before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women
slaves to attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the
princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit
for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten
purses; go, and make haste."
As soon as Alla ad Deen had given these orders, the genie
disappeared, but presently returned with the horse, the forty
slaves, ten of whom carried each a purse containing ten thousand
pieces of gold, and six women slaves, each carrying on her head a
different dress for Alla ad Deen's mother, wrapped up in a piece
of silver tissue, and presented them all to Alla ad Deen.
Of the ten purses Alla ad Deen took four, which he gave to his
mother, telling her, those were to supply her with necessaries;
the other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought
them, with an order to throw them by handfuls among the people as
they went to the sultan's palace. The six slaves who carried the
purses he ordered likewise to march before him, three on the
right hand and three on the left. Afterwards he presented the six
women slaves to his mother, telling her they were her slaves, and
that the dresses they had brought were for her use.
When Alla ad Deen had thus settled matters, he told the genie he
would call for him when he wanted him, and thereupon the genie
disappeared. Alla ad Deen's thoughts now were only upon
answering, as soon as possible, the desire the sultan had shown
to see him. He dispatched one of the forty slaves to the palace,
with an order to address himself to the chief of the porters, to
know when he might have the honour to come and throw himself at
the sultan's feet. The slave soon acquitted himself of his
commission, and brought for answer, that the sultan waited for
him with impatience.
Alla ad Deen immediately mounted his charger, and began his
march, in the order we have already described; and though he
never was on horseback before, appeared with such extraordinary
grace, that the most experienced horseman would not have taken
him for a novice. The streets through which he was to pass were
almost instantly filled with an innumerable concourse of people,
who made the air echo with acclamations, especially every time
the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold
among the populace. Neither did these acclamations and shouts of
joy come from those alone who scrambled for the money, but from
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