128 & Prince Camaralzaman and

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confusion than before, and was thinking how to extricate himself.
He endeavoured to pacify the prince by good words, and begged
of him, in the most humble and guarded manner, to tell him if he
had seen this lady.

. ‘Yes, yes,’ answered the prince, ‘I have seen her, and am- very
well satisfied you sent her. She played the part you had given her
admirably well, for I could not get a word out of her. She pretended
to be asleep, but I was no sooner fallen into a slumber than she arose
and left me. You know all this; for I doubt not she has been to
make her report to you. =

“My lord,’ replied the vizier, ‘nothing of this has been done
which you seem to reproach me with; neither your father‘nor I have
sent this lady you speak of; permit me therefore to remind your
highness once more that you have only seen this lady.in a. dream,’

‘Do you come to affront and contradict me,’ said the prince ina
great rage, ‘and to tell me to my face that what I have told you is a
dream?’ At the same time he took him by the beard, and loaded ©
him with blows as long ashe. could stand.

The poor grand vizier endured with respectful shen all the
violence of his lord’s indignation, and could not help saying within
himself, ‘Now am I in as bad a condition as the slave, and. shall
think myself happy if I can, like him, escape from any further
danger.” In the midst of repeated blows he cried out for but a
moment’s audience, which the prince, after he had’ nearly tired :
himself with beating him, consented to give.

‘I own, my prince,’ said the grand vizier, dissembling, Heal is
something in what your highness suspects; but you cannot be
ignorant of the necessity a minister is under to obey his royal
master’s orders ; “yet, if you will but be pleased to.set me at liberty,
I will go and tell him qayenine on your part that you shall think fit
to command me.’

‘Go then,’ said the prince, ‘and tell him from me that if he pleases