gn of this
city dies without children, all the inhabitants are, according to the
constitution, assembled together in the great street, there ready to
come out and salute as their Prince the first traveller who happens to
emerge from the wilderness; and in this manner it is impossible for us
not to acknowledge the finger of Providence, who gives the crown to
the person He judges most fit to wear it. Heaven be praised for having
sent us, on this occasion, a King such as you seem to be; for had it
been never such a ragamuffin, or even scoundrel, it must have been
equally our duty to welcome him as our lord."

"Believe not," answered Smaragdine, recollecting herself, "believe not
that in me you hail any low-born Prince. No, my lords, I am the son of
a noble house, who happened to take into my head the fancy of riding
through the world in quest of adventures; and here, as you perceive,
gentlemen, here is one that appears to be by no means of a despicable
description to begin with."

Without delay Smaragdine held her triumphant entry into the city,
opened the treasury chambers of the dead King, and distributed a large
proportion of the gold that was found there to propitiate the goodwill
of the inhabitants, above all of the army. In this way all hearts were
won, and every class of the people remained full of affection and
devotion to the sovereign authority. The Sultan alone was unhappy. Her
thoughts rested afar off upon her Alischar. In the harem she
constrained herself so far as to appear well pleased with the songs,
dances, and banquets prepared for her; but when night approached, she
retired to a solitary chamber, and spent the silent hours in fasting
and praying and melancholy reflection.

After a full twelve months had been passed in this manner, without any
tidings of the lost Alischar, she assembled on the feast of the New
Year the Viziers and lords of the chamber, and gave command that a
vast amphitheatre should be erected in the centre of the city. In the
midst a lofty dome was placed, below which seats were arranged for the
nobles of the realm. Here, when all was finished, Smaragdine
entertained them with a stately feast; and her heralds made
proclamation, that henceforth, on the first day of every new moon, a
season naturally devoted to festivities, the Sultan would give a
banquet to all his subjects in the amphitheatre: on that day, under
pain of death, no shop should be opened, nor merchandise cared for. On