they imagined him to be,
they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged his
blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, kissed
only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease,
stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering
some words in form of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well
that everybody took him for the holy woman. He came at last to the
square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great
that the princess, who was in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows,
heard it, and asked what was the matter. One of her women told her it
was a great crowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured
of diseases by the imposition of her hands.

The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never
seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her. The
chief officer perceiving this, told her it was an easy matter to bring
the woman to her if she desired and commanded it; and the princess
expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the
pretended holy woman.

As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made
way; and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for him,
advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so well.

"Holy woman," said one of the slaves, "the princess wishes to see you,
and has sent us for you."

"The princess does me too great an honor," replied the false Fatima;
"I am ready to obey her command." And at the same time he followed the
slaves to the palace.

When the pretended Fatima had made his obeisance, the princess said,
"My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not
refuse me; it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with your way
of living, and that I may learn from your good example."

"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask what
I cannot consent to without neglecting my prayers and devotion."

"That shall be no hindrance to you," answered the princess; "I have a
great many apartments unoccupied; you shall choose which you like
best, and have as much liberty to perform your devotions as if you
were in your own cell."

The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce
himself into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for
him to execute his designs, did not long excuse himself from accepting
the obliging offer which the princess m