r habit as magnificent as
that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses appointed
for his use to be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a
large troop of slaves to the sultan's palace. The sultan received him
with the same honours as before, embraced him, placed him on the throne
near him, and ordered a collation. Aladdin said: "I beg your majesty
will dispense with my eating with you to-day; I came to entreat you to
take a repast in the princess's palace, attended by your grand vizier,
and all the lords of your court." The sultan consented with pleasure,
rose up immediately, and, preceded by the principal officers of his
palace, and followed by all the great lords of his court, accompanied
Aladdin.

The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was
struck with its beauty, but was much more amazed when he entered it; and
could not forbear breaking out into exclamations of approbation. But
when he came into the hall, and cast his eyes on the windows, enriched
with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all large perfect stones, he was so
much surprised, that he remained some time motionless. After he
recovered himself, he said to his vizier; "Is it possible that there
should be such a stately palace so near my own, and I be an utter
stranger to it till now?" "Sir," replied the grand vizier, "your majesty
may remember that the day before yesterday you gave Aladdin, whom you
accepted for a son-in-law, leave to build a palace opposite your own,
and that very day at sunset there was no palace on this spot, but
yesterday I had the honour first to tell you that the palace was built
and finished." "I remember," replied the sultan, "but never imagined
that the palace was one of the wonders of the world; for where in all
the world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and silver,
instead of brick, stone, or marble; and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds
composing the windows!"

The sultan would examine and admire the beauty of all the windows, and
counting them, found that there were but three and twenty so richly
adorned, and he was greatly astonished that the twenty-fourth was left
imperfect. "Vizier," said he, for that minister made a point of never
leaving him, "I am surprised that a hall of this magnificence should be
left thus imperfect." "Sir," replied the grand vizier, "without doubt
Aladdin only wanted time to finish this window like the rest; for it is
not to be supposed but that