Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/58

16 queen espied a curtain of silk, whereon were these words written: “O my son, marvel not at these great riches, whereto I have won by dint of sore travail; but know that there existeth also another image whose worth is more than that of these [eight] images twenty times told. Wherefore, an thou wouldst come thereby, get thee to Cairo, where thou wilt find a slave of mine, by name Mubarek, who will take thee and bring thee in company with the ninth image. When thou enterest Cairo, the first man whom thou encounterest will direct thee to Mubarek’s house, for he is known in all Egypt.” When Zein ul Asnam read this inscription, he said, “O my mother, it is my wish to journey to Cairo, so I may make search for the ninth image. Tell me, how deemest thou of my dream? Was it true or was it not? Wilt thou still say to me, ‘These be idle tales’? But I, O my mother, needs must I journey to Cairo.” “O my son,” answered the queen, “since thou art under