You know the care I have taken, with your approbation, to conceal
from him my happiness at home with you. How he has been informed of
it I cannot tell.'
Here the fairy Pari Banou interrupted Prince Ahmed, and said, 'But
I know. Remember what I told you of the woman who made you believe
she was ill, on whom you took so much compassion. It is she who has
acquainted the sultan your father with what you took so much care
to hide from him. I told you that she was no more sick than you or
I, for, after the two women whom I charged to take care of her had
given her the water sovereign against all fevers, which, however,
she had no occasion for, she pretended that the water had cured
her, and was brought to take leave of me, that she might go sooner
to give an account of the success of her undertaking. She was in so
much haste that she would have gone away without seeing my palace,
if I had not, by bidding my two women show it her, given her to
understand that it was worth her seeing. But go on and tell me what
is the necessity your father has imposed on you which has made you
feel troublesome to me, which I desire you will be persuaded you
can never be.'
'Madam,' pursued Prince Ahmed, 'you may have observed that hitherto
I have never asked you any favour, for what, after the possession
of so kind a wife, can I desire more? I know how great your power
is, but I have taken care not to make trial of it.
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