se in glory and prosper?" Quoth the Maugrabin, "Marry, it
is the utmost of my wish to look upon the palace; so, an thou wouldst do
me a kindness, direct me thither, for that I am a stranger." "Hearkening
and obedience," replied the other and going before him, guided him to
Alaeddin's palace.

The Maugrabin fell to examining it and knew that this all of it was the
work of the Lamp; so he said, "Alack! Alack! Needs must I dig a pit for
this accursed one, this tailor's son, who could not come by a night's
supper; but, an destiny enable me, I will send his mother back to spin
at her wheel, like as she did erst, and as for him, it shall cost him
[556] his life." Then he returned to the khan in a woeful state of
chagrin and colour and despite, for envy of Alaeddin, and [557] taking
his geomantic instruments, [558] smote his [tablet of] sand, so he might
learn where the lamp was, and found that it was in the palace and not
with Alaeddin; [559] whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said,
"Now it will be an easy matter for me to bereave this accursed of his
life and I have a way to come at the lamp." Accordingly he went to a
coppersmith and said to him, "Make me so many [560] lamps [561] and
take of me their worth in full; [562] but I will have thee despatch them
quickly." "Hearkening and obedience," replied the smith and falling to
work on them, speedily despatched them for him. When they were finished,
the Maugrabin paid him their price, even that which he sought, and
taking the lamps, carried them to the khan, where he laid them in a
basket and fell to going round about in the markets and thoroughfares
of the city and crying out, "Ho! who will barter an old lamp for a new
lamp?" When the folk heard him crying this, they laughed at him and
said, "Certes, this man is mad, since he goeth about, bartering new
lamps for old." Moreover, people [563] followed him and the street-boys
caught him up from place to place [564] and laughed at him. However, he
fended not himself neither took heed of this, but ceased not to go round
about the city till he came under Alaeddin's palace, where he fell
to crying his loudest, whilst the children called after him, "Madman!
Madman!"

Now as fate willed it, the Lady Bedrulbudour was in the kiosk and
hearing one crying out and the boys calling after him and understanding
not what was toward, bade one of the slave-girls "Go see what is this
man who crieth out and what he crieth." So the girl