TWILIGHT LAND

the princess for my wife, for without her I am like to
die.” :

“My lord’s commands,” said the Genie, ‘shall be exe-
cuted if I have to tear down the city to do so. But
perhaps this behest is not so hard to fulfil, First of
all, my lord will have to have an ambassador to send to
the king.”

“Very well,” said Abdallah with a sigh; ‘let me have
an ambassador or whatever may be necessary. Only
make haste, Genie, in thy doings.”

“J shall lose no time,” said the Genie; and in a
moment was gone.

The king was sitting in council with all of the greatest
lords of the land gathered about him, for the Emperor of
India had declared war against him, and he and they were
in debate, discussing how the country was to be saved.
Just then Abdallah’s ambassador arrived, and when he
and his train entered the council-chamber all stood up to
receive him, for the least of those attendant upon him was
more magnificently attired than the king himself, and was
bedecked with such jewels as the royal treasury could not
match.

Kneeling before the king, the ambassador touched the
ground with his forehead. Then, still kneeling, he un-
rolled a scroll, written in letters of gold, and from it read
the message asking for the princess to wife for the Lord
Abdallah.

When he had ended, the king sat for a while stroking
his beard and meditating. But before he spoke the oldest
lord of the council arose and said: “O sire! if this Lord
Abdallah who asks for the princess for his wife can send

244