igness of a small piece of
Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the white spot,
burn them, and smoke the princess's head with the fumes. She will not
only be immediately cured, but be so safely delivered from the genie
that he will never dare approach her again."

The head of the dervishes remembered every word of the conversation
between the fairies and the genies, who remained silent the remainder
of the night. The next morning, as soon as daylight appeared, and he
could discern the nature of his situation, the well being broken down
in several places, he saw a hole, by which he crept out with ease.

The other dervishes, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced to
see him. He gave them a brief account of the wickedness of the man to
whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and retired into
his cell. Shortly after, the black cat, which the fairies and genies
had mentioned the night before, came to fawn upon her master, as she
was accustomed to do; he took her up, and pulled seven hairs from the
white spot that was upon her tail, and laid them aside for his use
when occasion should serve.

Soon after sunrise the sultan, who would leave no means untried that
he thought likely to restore the princess to perfect health, arrived
at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to halt, while he
with his principal officers went in. The dervishes received him with
profound respect.

The sultan called their chief aside, and said, "Good Sheik,[18] you
may probably be already acquainted with the cause of my visit."

[Footnote 18: Sheiks are the chiefs of the societies of dervishes;
cadis, the magistrate of a town or city.--Notes on Vathek, p. 322.]

"Yes, sir," replied he gravely, "if I do not mistake, it is the
disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honor."

"That is the real case," replied the sultan. "You will give me new
life if your prayers, as I hope they may, restore my daughter's
health."

"Sir," said the good man, "if your majesty will be pleased to let her
come hither, I am in hopes, through God's assistance, that she will be
effectually cured."

The prince, transported with joy, sent immediately for his daughter,
who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and attendants,
veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of the dervishes
caused a carpet to be held over her head, and he had no sooner thrown
the seven hairs upon the burning coals than t