484 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

At this moment Pari-Banou interrupted Prince Ahmed. “I
will tell you,” she answered. “Do you recollect what I said to
you about the woman, whom you thought so ill, and who there-
fore excited your compassion? It is she who has informed the
sultan of what you had concealed from him. I told you that I
had an idea she was not so ill as she pretended, and she has
now confirmed the truth of my suspicions.”

“You may have observed,” resumed Prince Ahmed, “that I
have till now been satisfied with your affection for me, and have
never requested any favour of you, but to continue your regard,
After possessing indeed so amiable a wife, what could I wish for
more! Iam not, however, ignorant of the greatness of your
sower ; but I had made it a point not to put it to the proof,
Consider, then, I entreat you, that it is not I, but the sultan my
father who makes a request, which seems to me very foolish and
indiscreet ; it is, that you would procure a pavilion, which may
secure from the injuries of the weather, when he takes the field,
himself, his court, and all his army, and yet so small, that you
may hold it in your hand. Once more let me say, that I do not
make the request, but the sultan my father, by means of me.”

“Prince,” replied Pari-Banou with a smile, “I am really sorry
that such a trifle should have afforded you the least embarrass-
ment.”

She then ordered her female treasurer to appear. When she
came, Pari-Banou said to her, “ Nourgihan, bring me the largest
pavilion that is in the treasury.” Nourgihan went out, and
almost instantly returned with a pavilion, that she could not
only hold in her hand, but which might be quite hidden, if she
closed it. She presented it to her mistress, who took it, and
then gave it to Prince Ahmed, who immediately started with it
for his father’s court.

The sultan, who was perfectly persuaded that such a pavilion
as he had demanded was an impossibility, was very much asto-
nished at the diligence of the prince his son. He received the
pavilion, and after having admired its small size, he was in the
greatest surprise, and from which he did not very soon recover,
when he saw it erected in the large plain that has been men-
tioned before ; and when he saw that two armies, quite as large
as his own, could be conveniently encamped under it.

The sultan, in appearance, gave his son the strongest proofs