h another such fearful night, and wished to be
separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of
feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the
Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the
Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent
for her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever
to keep his word, and asked his Vizier's advice, who counselled him to
set so high a value on the Princess that no man living could come up
to it. The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good
woman, a sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine,
but your son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of
jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones,
splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of
Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost. She gave
Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your
answer!" "Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied. "I
would do a great deal more than that for the Princess." He summoned
the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled
up the small house and garden. Aladdin made them set out to the palace
two and two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, with
such splendid jewels in their girdles, that every one crowded to see
them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads. They entered
the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a
half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's
mother presented them to the Sultan. He hesitated no longer, but said:
"Good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open
arms." She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste.
But Aladdin first called the genie. "I want a scented bath," he said,
"a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and
twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully
dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold
in ten purses." No sooner said than done, Aladdin mounted his horse
and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went.
Those who had played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had
grown so handsome. When the Sultan saw him he came down from his
throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was
spread, i