dvancing had made all objects very
distinct. He looked again in front, to the right and left, but
beheld nothing more than he had formerly been used to see from
his window. His amazement was so great, that he stood for some
time turning his eyes to the spot where the palace had stood, but
where it was no longer to be seen. He could not comprehend how so
large a palace as Alla ad Deen's, which he had seen plainly every
day for some years, and but the day before, should vanish so
soon, and not leave the least remains behind. "Certainly," said
he to himself, "I am not mistaken; it stood there: if it had
fallen, the materials would have lain in heaps; and if it had
been swallowed up by an earthquake, there would be some mark
left." At last, though he was convinced that no palace stood now
opposite his own, he could not help staying some time at his
window, to see whether he might not be mistaken. At last he
retired to his apartment, not without looking behind him before
he quitted the spot ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with
expedition, and in the meantime sat down, his mind agitated by so
many different conjectures that he knew not what to resolve.

The grand vizier did not make the sultan wait long for him, but
came with so much precipitation, that neither he nor his
attendants, as they passed, missed Alla ad Deen's palace; neither
did the porters, when they opened the palace gates observe any
alteration.

When he came into the sultan's presence, he said to him, "the
haste in which your majesty sent for me makes me believe
something extraordinary has happened, since you know that this is
a day of public audience, and I should not have failed of
attending at the usual time." "Indeed," said the sultan, "it is
something very extraordinary, as you say, and you will allow it
to be so: tell me what is become of Alla ad Deen's palace?" "His
palace!" replied the grand vizier, in amazement, "I thought as I
passed it stood in its usual place; such substantial buildings
are not so easily removed." "Go into my closet," said the sultan,
"and tell me if you can see it."

The grand vizier went into the closet, where he was struck with
no less amazement than the sultan had been. When he was well
assured that there was not the least appearance of this palace,
he returned to the sultan. "Well," said the sultan, "have you
seen Alla ad Deen's palace?" "No," answered the vizier; "but your
majesty may remember that I had the hon