complete set of furniture made all of gold, and see if I do not bring the Princess back to thee."
So the King did all that John the True demanded. And he sailed away with the ship and its merchandise to the country of the Golden Horde. And when he came there to the chief port he did not declare from what country he was but sent up, as tribute to the King of the Golden Horde, a beautiful chair all made of gold.
Now when the King saw this he became curious about this merchant and his wares, and came down with his Queen and the Princess to view the rarities. And when he saw the set of furniture all made of gold he asked John the True what its price was.
But John said it was not for sale, but that he kept it to make gifts of tribute to the kings whose realm he was visiting.
But the Princess had set her heart upon one dressing-table all of gold, with crystal mirrors and lovely fittings, and asked John if he could not sell it to her.
But John said, '"No, that is kept for a special purpose, which I am not allowed to tell."
This aroused the curiosity of the Princess, and later on towards the evening she came down with only one maid to see if she could not persuade John to let her have the dressing-table.
When she came on board John went to the captain and told him to set sail as soon as the Princess went down into the cabin. And when she came
