' Then the fairy sent for her treasurer, to whom
she said 'Nourgihan' (which was her name), 'bring me the largest
pavilion in my treasury.' Nourgihan returned presently with a
pavilion, which could not only be held but concealed in the palm of
the hand when it was closed, and presented it to her mistress, who
gave it to Prince Ahmed to look at.
When Prince Ahmed saw the pavilion, which the fairy called the
largest in her treasury, he fancied she was joking, and his
surprise appeared in his face. Pari Banou burst out laughing.
'What! Prince,' cried she, 'do you think I jest with you? You will
see presently that I am in earnest. Nourgihan' said she to her
treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed's hands, 'go and set
it up, that the prince may judge whether the sultan his father will
think it large enough.'
The treasurer immediately went out from the palace, and carried it
to such a distance that when she had set it up one end reached to
the palace. The prince, so far from thinking it small, found it
large enough to shelter two armies as numerous as that of the
sultan his father; and then said to Pari Banou, 'I ask my princess
a thousand pardons for my incredulity: after what I have seen, I
believe there is nothing impossible to you.
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