the Princess Nouronnihar | oe 77

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my curiosity at the court of Bisnagar, and had a mind to return,
I made use of no other means than this wonderful. carpet for myself
and servant, who can tell you how long. we were coming hither.
I will show you both the experiment whenever you please. I
expect you to tell me whether what you have brought is to be
compared to this carpet.’ :

Here Prince Houssain ended, and Prince Ali said, ‘I must
own, brother, that your carpet is one of the -most surprising
things imaginable, if it has, as I do not doubt in the least, that
property you speak of. But you must allow that there may be
other things, I will not say more, but at least as wonderful, in
another way; and to convince you there are, here is an ivory tube,
which appears to the eye no more a rarity than your carpet. It cost
me as much, and I am as well satisfied with my purchase as you
can be with yours ; and you will be so just as to own that I have not
been cheated, when you know by experience that by looking at one
end-you see whatever you wish to behold. “Take it’ added Prince
Ali, presenting the tube to him, ‘make trial of it yourself?

‘Prince Houssain took the ivory tube from Prince Ali, and clapped
that.end to his éye which Prince Ali showed him, to see the Princess
Nouronnihar, and to know how she was, when Prince Ali and Prince
Ahmed, who kept their eyes fixed upon him, were extremely surprised
to. see his countenance change suddenly with extraordinary pain

_and grief. Prince Houssain would not give them time to ask
what was the matter, but cried out, ‘Alas! princes, to what
purpose have. we undertaken long and fatiguing journeys? In a
few moments our lovely princess will breathe her last. I saw her
‘in her bed, surrounded. by her women and attendants, who were
all in tears. Take the tube, pons for yourselves the miserable

~ state she is in’

' Prince Ali took the tube out of Prince Houssain’s hand and after
he had looked, presented it to Prince Ahmed.