Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/495

 'I should be sorry to give you that trouble,' replied the princess; 'you had better send for them.'

'It is necessary I should go myself,' answered the African magician; 'for nobody but myself knows where the key of the cellar is laid, or has the secret to unlock the door.'

'If it be so,' said the princess, 'make haste back again; for the longer you stay, the greater will be my impatience, and we shall sit down to supper as soon as you come back.'

The African magician, full of hope, flew rather than ran, and returned quickly with the wine. The princess, not doubting in the least but that he would make haste, put with her own hand the powder Aladdin gave her into the cup that was set apart for that purpose. They sat down at the table opposite to each other, the magician's back towards the sideboard. The princess presented him with the best on the table, and said to him, 'If it pleases you, I will entertain you with a concert of vocal and instrumental music; but, as we are only two, I think conversation may be more agreeable.' This the magician took as a new favour.

After they had eaten some time, the princess called for some wine, and drank the magician's health; and afterwards said to him, 'Indeed you were right to commend your wine, since I never tasted any so delicious in my life.'

'Charming princess,' said he, holding in his hand the cup which had been presented to him, 'my wine becomes more exquisite by your approbation of it.'

'Then drink my health,' replied the princess; 'you will find I understand wines.' He drank the princess's health, and returning the cup, said, 'I think myself happy, princess, that I reserved this wine for so good an occasion; and I own I never before drank any so excellent in every respect.'

Presently, the princess, who had completely charmed the African magician by her civility and obliging behaviour, gave the signal to the slave who served them with wine, bidding her bring the cup which had been filled for herself, and at the same time bring the magician a full cup. When they both had their cups in their hands, she presented to him the cup which was