86 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS,

black cat, which had been mentioned in the discourse of the
fairies and genii, came to him to be taken notice of as usual.
He then took it up, and plucked out seven hairs from the white
spot in its tail, and put them aside, in order to make use of
whenever he should have occasion for them.

The sun had not long risen above the horizon when the sultan,
who wished to neglect nothing from which he thought there was
any chance of curing the princess, arrived at the gate. He
ordered his guards to stop, and went in with the principal
officers who accompanied him. The dervises received him with
the greatest respect. The sultan directly took the chief aside,
and said to him, “Worthy sheikh, you are perhaps already
acquainted with the cause of my visit.” “If, sire,” the dervise
modestly answered, “I do not deceive myself, it is the malady
of the princess that has been the occasion of my seeing you, an
honour of which I am unworthy.” “It is so,” replied the
sultan ; “and you will restore almost my life to me if, by means
of your prayers, I shall obtain the re-establishment of my
daughter's health.” “If your majesty,” answered the worthy
man, “will have the goodness to suffer her to come here, I
flatter myself that she shall return in perfect health.”

The prince, transported with joy, immediately sent for his
daughter, who soon appeared, accompanied by a numerous train
of females, and veiled in such a manner that her face could not
be seen, The chief of the dervises made them hold a <hovel
over the head of the princess, and he no sooner threw the seven
white hairs upon some burning coals, which he had ordered to be
brought in it, than the genius Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, ut-
tered a violent scream, and left the princess quite at liberty. In
the meantime nothing at all could be seen. The first thing she
did was to put her hand to the veil which covered her face, and
lift it up to see where she was. “Where am 1?” she cried;
“who has brought me here?” At these vords the sultan could
not conceal his joy; he embraced his duughter, he kissed her
eyes, and then took the hand of the dervise and kissed that.
“Give me,” said he to his officers, “ your opinion ; what return
does he deserve who has cured my daughter.” They all an-
swered that he was worthy of her hand. “This is the very thing
I was meditating,” he cried, “and from this moment I claim him
for my son-in-law.”