and kissed one another in perfect bliss till they began to weep from excess of happiness. And when they were seated 'Ala-ed-Din said to her: "O Lady Bedr-el-Budur, before anything it is my wish to ask thee somewhat. It was my habit to put an old copper lamp in my apartment in a certain place... ." When the Lady Bedr-el-Budur heard this, she sighed and said: "Alas, my beloved, it was that Lamp that was the cause of our falling into this misfortune." And 'Ala-ed-Din asked her, "How did this affair happen?" And she told him the whole story from first to last, and how they had exchanged the old lamp for a new one. And she added: "The next day we hardly saw one another in the morning before we found our- selves in this country; and he who cozened us and exchanged the Lamp told me that he had 'done this by force of magic by the aid of the Lamp, and that he is a Moor of Africa, and we are in his town."
When the Lady Bedr-el-Budur had done speaking, 'Ala-ed-Din said to her: "Tell me what this accursed is going to do with thee, and what and how he speaketh to thee, and what is his will of thee." She answered: "He cometh to see me every day only once, and he would win me to love him, and marry him instead of thee, and forget thee and be consoled for thee. And he saith that the Sultan, my father, hath cut off thy head, and telleth me that thou art of poor people, and that he is the cause of thy wealth. And he blandisheth me with his words, but he never seeth in me anything but tears and weeping, and he hath not heard a kind word from me." Then 'Ala-ed-Din said: "Tell me, if thou knowest, where he keepeth the Lamp." But she replied: "He carryeth it always with him, and it is not possible to part him from it for a single instant. But once, when he told me what I had related to thee, he took 'it from his bosom and shewed it to me." So when 'Ala-ed-Din heard these words he rejoiced greatly, and said: "O Lady 'Bedr-el-Budur, listen. I propose to go out now and return after changing my dress. So be not surprised at it; but instruct one of thy maidens 'to stand by the private door till she see me, and then open it at once. And now I will plot how to slay this Accursed."
Therefore 'Ala-ed-Din arose and went forth from the palace gate, and proceeded till he met by the way a peasant, to whom he said:
