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
Aladdin'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 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 Aladdin'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 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 Aladdin's palace?"
"His palace!" replied the grand vizier in amazement; "I thought as I
passed it stood in its usual place." "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 the palace, he returned to the sultan.
"Well," said the sultan, "have you seen Aladdin's palace?" "No,"
answered the vizier, "but your majesty may remember, that I had the
honour to tell you, that the edifice, which was the subject of your
admiration, was only the work of magic and a magician; but your majesty
would not pay the least attention to what I said." The sultan, who could
not deny what the grand vizier had represented to him, flew into the
greater passion: "Where is that impostor, that wicked wretch," said