wded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly
caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother
asked the oil merchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of
public festivity.

"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that the
grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the
sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the bath;
and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the
palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized."

Aladdin's mother, on hearing this news, ran home very quickly.

"Child," cried she, "you are undone! The sultan's fine promises will
come to naught. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the
Princess Buddir al Buddoor."

At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck. He bethought himself of the
lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without
indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he
determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage.

When Aladdin had got into his chamber he took the lamp, and rubbing it
in the same place as before, immediately the genie appeared, and said
to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave;
I, and the other slaves of the lamp."

"Hear me," said Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am
about to impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was
promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the grand
vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire to their
bedchamber."

"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you."

Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his
own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according
to his commands.

In the meantime the festivities in honor of the princess's marriage
were conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. The
ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and
the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No
sooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the
genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and
alarm of the bride and bridegroom took up the bed, and by an agency
invisible to them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's
chamber, where he set it down.

"Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and keep him a
prisoner till to-morr