68 ats . Phe Three. Princes and

 

‘Sir, replied the crier, ‘I have told you the truth ; and it will be
an easy matter to convince you of it, as soon as you have made the
bargain for forty purses, by experiment. But as I suppose you have
not so much with you, and that I must go with you-to the khan
where you lodge, with the leave of the master of the shop we will go
into his back shop, and I will spread the carpet; and when we have
both sat down, and you have formed the wish to be transported into
your room at the khan, if we are not transported thither it shall be
no bargain. As to your present, as I am paid for my trouble by
the seller, I shall receive it as a favour, and be very much obliged
to you for it’

The prince accepted the conditions, and eonttudied the bargain ;
and having obtained the master’s leave, they went into his back shop;
they both sat down on the carpet, and as soon as the prince wished
to be transported into his: room at the khan, he found himself and
the crier there, and as he wanted no more convincing proof of the
virtue of the carpet, he counted to the crier forty purses of gold, and
gave him twenty pieces. for himself.

In this manner Prince Houssain became the possessor of the

carpet, and was overjoyed that on his arrival at Bisnagar he had
found so rare a treasure, which he never doubted would gain him the ;

Princess Nouronnihar. In short he looked upon it as an impossible
thing for the princes, his younger brothers, to’meet with anything to

compare with it. IH was in his power, by sitting on this carpet, to be

at the place of rendezvous that very day ;. but as he was obliged to
wait for his brothers, as they had agreed, and as: the was curious to
' see the King of Bisnagar and his court, and to learn. about | the laws,
customs, and religion of the kingdom, he chose to make a longer
abode there.

‘It was ‘a custom of the. King of Bisnagar’ to give audience to”
all strange merchants once a week ; and Prince Houssain,. who
remained zucognito, saw him often ; and as he was handsome, clever, ©

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