Page:Arabian Nights (Sterrett).djvu/219

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I must cease my tale at this point. This is unfortunate, as the better part remains to be told.”

“Then we will hear it to-morrow,” the sultan replied.

And it was as he had said.


As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six women slaves, each carrying on her head a splendid dress for Aladdin’s mother, wrapt up in a piece of silver tissue.

Aladdin presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of the ten purses Aladdin gave four to his mother, telling her they were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw the money by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan’s palace. The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march beside him, three on the right hand and three on the left.

When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with the sultan, he dismissed the genie and immediately mounting his charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, appeared with a grace the

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