When she thought the prince and his attendants were out of
sight, she came out of the place where she had hidden herself, and
went direct to the hollow where she had seen them go in. She
entered it, and proceeded to the spot where it terminated in many
windings, looking carefully about on all sides. But notwithstanding
all her diligence she could perceive no opening, nor the iron gate
which Prince Ahmed discovered. For this door was to be seen by and
opened to none but men, and only to men whose presence was
agreeable to the fairy Pari Banou, and not at all to women.
The magician, who saw it was in vain for her to search any further,
was obliged to be satisfied with the discovery she had made, and
returned to give the sultan an account. When she had told him what
she had done, she added, 'Your majesty may easily understand, after
what I have had the honour to tell you, that it will be no
difficult matter to give you the satisfaction you desire concerning
Prince Ahmed's conduct. To do this, I only ask time, and that you
will have patience, and give me leave to do it without inquiring
what measures I intend to take.'
The sultan was very well pleased with the magician's conduct, and
said to her, 'Do as you think fit: I will wait patiently,' and to
encourage her, he made her a present of a diamond of great value,
telling her it was only an earnest of the ample reward she should
receive when she had done him that important service, which he left
to her management.
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