s, a young man, tanned and dusty with travel,
in the uniform of an officer of the king's guard. One of the few
faults of this lovely princess was a devouring curiosity, and she
lived such an idle life that she had plenty of time to be curious. Out
of one of the folds of this young man's turban there peeped the corner
of a letter! She wondered what the letter was--whom it was for! She
drew her veil a little closer, and stole across on tip-toe and caught
hold of the corner of the letter. Then she pulled it a little, and
just a little more! A great big seal came into view, which she saw to
be her father's, and at the sight of it she paused for a minute half
ashamed of what she was doing. But the pleasure of taking a letter
which was not meant for her was more than she could resist, and in
another moment it was in her hand. All at once she remembered that it
would be death to this poor officer if he lost the letter, and that at
all hazards she must put it back again. But this was not so easy; and,
moreover, the letter in her hand burnt her with longing to read it,
and see what was inside. She examined the seal. It was sticky with
being exposed to the hot sun, and with a very little effort it parted
from the paper. The letter was open and she read it! And this was what
was written:

'Behead the messenger who brings this letter secretly and at once. Ask
no questions.'

The girl grew pale. What a shame! she thought. _She_ would not let a
handsome young fellow like that be beheaded; but how to prevent it was
not quite clear at the moment. Some plan must be invented, and she
wished to lock herself in where no one could interrupt her, as might
easily happen in the garden. So she crept softly to her room, and took
a piece of paper and wrote upon it: 'Marry the messenger who brings
this letter to the princess openly at once. Ask no questions.' And
even contrived to work the seals off the original letter and to fix
them to this, so that no one could tell, unless they examined it
closely, that it had ever been opened. Then she slipped back, shaking
with fear and excitement, to where the young officer still lay
asleep, thrust the letter into the folds of his turban, and hurried
back to her room. It was done!

Late in the afternoon Nur Mahomed woke, and, making sure that the
precious despatch was still safe, went off to get ready for his
audience with the governor. As soon as he was ushered into his
presence he took the letter from