nes. These basins must be carried by forty black
slaves, each led by a white slave dressed as befits the servants of
the Sultan."

Aladdin's mother returned home in great distress when she heard this,
and told Aladdin what the Sultan had said.

"Alas, my son!" she cried, "thy hopes are ended."

"Not so, mother," answered Aladdin. "The Sultan shall not have long to
wait for his answer."

Then he rubbed the magic lamp, and when the Genie appeared, he bade
him provide the forty golden basins filled with jewels, and all the
slaves which the Sultan had demanded.

Now when this splendid procession passed through the streets on its
way to the palace, all the people came out to see the sight, and stood
amazed when they saw the golden basins filled with sparkling gems
carried on the heads of the great black slaves. And when the palace
was reached, and the slaves presented the jewels to the Sultan, he
was so surprised and delighted that he was more than willing that
Aladdin should marry the Princess at once.

"Go, fetch thy son," he said to Aladdin's mother, who was waiting
near. "Tell him that this day he shall wed my daughter."

But when Aladdin heard the news he refused to hasten at once to the
palace, as his mother advised. First he called the Genie, and told him
to bring a scented bath, and a robe worked in gold, such as a King
might wear. After this he called for forty slaves to attend him, and
six to walk before his mother, and a horse more beautiful than the
Sultan's, and lastly, for ten thousand pieces of gold put up in ten
purses.

When all these things were ready, and Aladdin was dressed in his royal
robe, he set out for the palace. As he rode along on his beautiful
horse, attended by his forty slaves, he scattered the golden pieces
out of the ten purses among the crowd, and all the people shouted with
joy and delight. No one knew that this was the idle boy who used to
play about the streets but they thought he was some great foreign
Prince.

Thus Aladdin arrived at the palace in great state, and when the Sultan
had embraced him, he ordered that the wedding feast should be prepared
at once, and that the marriage should take place that day.

"Not so, your Majesty," said Aladdin; "I will not marry the Princess
until I have built a palace fit for the daughter of the Sultan."

Then he returned home, and once more called up the Slave of the Lamp.

"Build me the fairest palace ever beheld by mortal eye," order