own place.

The following morning, when the Sultan rose early, for he was too sad
to take much rest, he went to the window to gaze on the place where
Aladdin's palace had once stood. He rubbed his eyes, and stared wildly
about.

"This must be a dream," he cried, for there stood the palace in all
its beauty, looking fairer than ever in the morning light.

Not a moment did the Sultan lose, but he rode over to the palace at
once, and when he had embraced Aladdin and his daughter, they told him
the whole story of the African Magician. Then Aladdin showed him the
dead body of the wicked old man, and there was peace between them once
more.

But there was still trouble in store for Aladdin. The African Magician
had a younger brother who also dealt in magic, and who was if possible
even more wicked than his elder brother.

Full of revenge, this younger brother started for China, determined
to punish Aladdin and steal the Magic Lamp for himself. As soon as he
arrived he went in secret to the cell of a holy woman called Fatima,
and obliged her to give him her robe and veil as a disguise. Then to
keep the secret safe he killed the poor woman.

Dressed in the robe and veil, the wicked Magician walked through the
streets near Aladdin's palace, and all the people as he passed by
knelt and kissed his robe, for they thought he was indeed the holy
woman.

As soon as the Princess heard that Fatima was passing by in the
street, she sent and commanded her to be brought into the hall, and
she treated the supposed holy woman with great respect and kindness,
for she had often longed to see her.

"Is not this a fine hall?" she asked, as they sat together in the hall
of the jeweled windows.

"It is indeed most beautiful," answered the Magician, who kept his
veil carefully down, "but to my mind there is one thing wanting. If
only thou couldst have a roc's egg hung in the dome it would be
perfect."

As soon as the Princess heard these words she became discontented and
miserable, and when Aladdin came in, she looked so sad that he at once
asked what was the matter.

"I can never be happy until I have a roc's egg hanging from the dome
of the great hall," she answered.

"In that case thou shalt soon be happy," said Aladdin gaily, and
taking down the lamp, he summoned the Genie.

But when the Slave of the Lamp heard the order his face grew terrible
with rage, and his eyes gleamed like burning coals.

"Vile wretch!" he shrieked, "