more!"

Yet again Lallakalla came out from visiting the Sultana, and on this
occasion she hastily donned a robe of red, sprinkled white powder over
her cheeks, and set on her head a most magnificent structure of ruddy
hair. Thus arrayed she went again into the room where the Sultana was.

"By Allah, the dog took no other wife at all!" thought the slave, and,
looking through his spy-hole, he saw Ashimullah making off in great
haste, carrying the box and the robes with him. Then Hassan came and
led the slave back by the way they had come to the place where he
awaited the Sultana.

"This wife of Ashimullah is a wonderful woman," said the Sultan to
himself, as he lay awake that night. "Behold, she is in herself a
multitude!"

Early the next morning Ashimullah was summoned to the palace, and at
once ushered into the presence of the Sultan.

"O Ashimullah, I have reflected," said the Sultan, "and I desire that
you will send me that wife of yours who has ruddy hair. For although
the choice is difficult, yet I think that she must be the fairest of
them all."

Ashimullah, knowing not what to say, prostrated himself and promised
obedience; then, having withdrawn from the presence, he ran back home
as fast as he could lay his feet to the ground, and sought out
Lallakalla. With her he talked for some time; then he returned to the
palace, weeping and wringing his hands.

"What ails you, Ashimullah?" asked the Sultan.

"Alas! O Light of the World, a pestilence has fallen on my house, and
my wife with the ruddy hair lies dead."

"We must resign ourselves to the will of Heaven," said the Sultan.
"Yet I will not recall the favor I had destined for you. Send me the
wife that has coal-black hair, Ashimullah."

"Alas! Most Mighty One, misfortunes crowd upon me. That graceless
wife has fled from me in company with a fishmonger," groaned Ashimullah.

"You are well quit of her, and so also am I," remarked the Sultan.
"Yet I am not to be turned from my benevolent purpose, and rather than
fail in doing you honor, I will accept the wife with the golden hair."

"Alas! and alas! High and Potent Majesty, Heaven has set its wrath
upon me. As she rowed this morning, the boat upset, and she, my
golden-haired beauty, was drowned!" And Ashimullah laid his head on
the ground and sobbed pitifully.

"Of a truth you are afflicted. Yet do not despair, I will comfort you,
my good Ashimullah," said the Sultan. "Weep no more. Send