Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/261

Rh "'The answer given to your request, conferring such honor upon France, was evasive.'

"'And what said the princess, when she heard my wishes?'

"'She raised to me her eyes, as beautiful as two stars, and looked at me for a long time in silence. Afterwards one of her ladies-in-waiting, laughing and alluring, came to me and whispered that the beautiful Princess Conti would consent to be your wife when you would erect for her in Maghreb a replica of one of the palaces at Versailles. I ordered a plan of this palace to be made and have brought it to my Lord.'

"'You are wise, faithful and devoted. Show it to me.'

"It was not many days thereafter before thousands of slaves were already digging out the lake, artisans were building the pavilion and other slaves bringing great trees from the Atlas, from the neighborhood of Meknes and Fez and from the forests of Mamora and Shiadma to plant about it. The sultan himself directed the work and, seeing it advancing quickly, he looked upon the picture of the beautiful woman from the kingly house of France and whispered:

"'Soon, it will be soon, thou Morning Star, upon whom the grace of Allah has fallen!'

"Then near Marrakesh grew up a corner of Versailles with a palace set among cool trees and pampered lawns, upon which the glaciers of the Atlas looked down with astonishment. A flock of swans dotted the lake with their white plumage, and scores of brightly dressed serving-folk ran everywhere.

"The Grand Vizier journeyed to Paris to conduct the