'I own, my prince,' said the grand vizier, dissembling, 'there is
something in what your highness suspects; but you cannot be
ignorant of the necessity a minister is under to obey his royal
master's orders; yet, if you will but be pleased to set me at
liberty, I will go and tell him anything on your part that you
shall think fit to command me.'
'Go then,' said the prince, 'and tell him from me that if he
pleases I will marry the lady he sent me. Do this quickly, and
bring me a speedy answer.' The grand vizier made a profound
reverence, and went away, not thinking himself altogether safe till
he had got out of the tower, and shut the door upon the prince.
He came and presented himself before the king, with a countenance
that sufficiently showed he had been ill-used, which the king could
not behold without concern. 'Well,' said the king, 'in what
condition did you find my son?'
'Sir,' answered the vizier, 'what the slave reported to your
majesty is but too true.' He then began to relate his interview
with Camaralzaman, how he flew into a passion upon his endeavouring
to persuade him it was impossible that the lady he spoke of should
have got in; the ill-treatment he had received from him; how he had
been used, and by what means he made his escape.
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