her husband and son; the latter she had never
looked on since his birth, but significant dreams had so plainly shown
her the object of her longings, that she would know him out of
thousands.

Now they heard the noise of the approaching troop; trumpets and drums
mingled with the huzzas of the populace; the hoofs of the horses
sounded on the court of the palace; steps came nearer and nearer; the
doors of the room flew open, and, through rows of prostrate
attendants, hastened the sultan, holding his son by the hand, towards
the mother's throne.

"Here," said he, "do I bring to thee, him for whom thou hast so often
longed."

The sultana, however, interrupted him, crying: "This is not my son!
These are not the features which the Prophet has shown me in my
dreams!"

Just as the sultan was about to rebuke her superstition, the door of
the saloon sprang open, and Prince Omar rushed in, followed by his
guards, whom an exertion of his whole strength had enabled him to
escape. Breathless, he threw himself before the throne, exclaiming:--

"Here will I die! Kill me, cruel father, for this disgrace I can
endure no longer!"

All were confounded at these words; they pressed around the
unfortunate one, and already were the guards, who had hurried up, on
the point of seizing him and replacing his fetters, when the sultana,
who had thus far looked on in mute astonishment, sprang from the
throne.

"Hold!" she cried; "this, and no other, is my son! This is he, who,
though my eyes have never seen him, is well known to my heart!" The
guards had involuntarily fallen back from Omar, but the sultan,
foaming with rage, commanded them to bind the madman.

"It is mine to decide," he cried with commanding tone; "and here we
will judge, not by a woman's dreams, but by sure and infallible
signs. This," pointing to Labakan, "is my son, for he has brought me
the dagger, the real token of my friend Elfi."

"He stole it," cried Omar; "my unsuspicious confidence has he
treacherously abused!" But the sultan hearkened not to the voice of
his son, for he was wont in all things obstinately to follow his own
judgment. He bade them forcibly drag the unfortunate Omar from the
saloon, and himself retired with Labakan to his chamber, filled with
anger at his wife, with whom, nevertheless, he had lived in happiness
for five-and-twenty years. The sultana was full of grief at this
affair; she was perfectly convinced that an impostor had taken
possessio