as happened?"

The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the
night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had
passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her
rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning,
on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off
her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if it
were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the
truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die
than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated
from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and
rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the
Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the
Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for
her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to
keep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to set
so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it.

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a
Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your
son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried
by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed.
Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and
went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your
answer!"

"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied. "I would do a
great deal more than that for the princess." He summoned the genie, and
in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small
house and garden.

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his
mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their
girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they
carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in
a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's
mother presented them to the Sultan.

He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son
that I wait for him with open arms."

She lost no time in telling