or indeed I
began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so
long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow. Perhaps
the sultan may not be so busy."

The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present
as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the
gates of the divan shut.[43] She went six times afterward on the days
appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with
as little success as the first morning.

[Footnote 43: Sir Paul Ricaut says that the divan is not held on two
successive days.]

On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the
sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: "I
have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly
every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a
napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of
the audience, and effects to place herself just before me. If this
woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may
hear what she has to say."

The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it
up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed.

On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and
placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier
immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her
bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed
the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan, bowed her head down
to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained
in that posture until he bade her rise.

She had no sooner done so, than he said to her, "Good woman, I have
observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of
the divan. What business brings you here?"

At these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time, and
when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the
boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and
forgiveness."

"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may,
and no hurt shall come to you. Speak boldly."

When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of the
sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son
had sent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request
in spite of all her remonstrances.

T