he,
"that I may have his head taken off immediately?" "Sir," replied the
grand vizier, "it is some days since he came to take his leave of your
majesty, on pretence of hunting; he ought to be sent for, to know what
is become of his palace, since he cannot be ignorant of what has been
transacted." "To send for him would be too great an indulgence," replied
the sultan: "command a detachment of horse to bring him to me loaded
with chains." The grand vizier gave orders for a detachment, and
instructed the officer who commanded the men how they were to act, that
Aladdin might not escape. The detachment pursued its orders; and about
five or six leagues from the town met him returning from the chase. The
officer advanced respectfully, and informed him the sultan was so
impatient to see him, that he had sent his party to accompany him home.

Aladdin had not the least suspicion of the true reason of their meeting
him; but when he came within half a league of the city, the detachment
surrounded him, when the officer addressed himself to him, and said;
"Prince, it is with great regret that I declare to you the sultan's
order to arrest you, and to carry you before him as a criminal: I beg
of you not to take it ill that we acquit ourselves of our duty, and to
forgive us." Aladdin, who felt himself innocent, was much surprised at
this declaration, and asked the officer if he knew what crime he was
accused of; who replied, he did not. Then Aladdin, finding that his
retinue was much inferior to this detachment, alighted from his horse,
and said to the officers: "Execute your orders; I am not conscious that
I have committed any offence against the sultan's person or government."
A heavy chain was immediately put about his neck, and fastened round his
body, so that both his arms were pinioned down; the officer then put
himself at the head of the detachment, and one of the troopers taking
hold of the end of the chain and proceeding after the officer, led
Aladdin, who was obliged to follow him on foot, into the city.

When this detachment entered the suburbs, the people, who saw Aladdin
thus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that his head was to be
cut off; and as he was generally beloved, some took sabres and other
arms; and those who had none gathered stones, and followed the escort.
Their numbers presently increased so much, that the soldiery began to
think it would be well if they could get into the sultan's palace before
Al