Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/113

93 a secret.’ He promised her all that she desired and she discovered to him her secret in the matter of her daughter, saying, ‘I will marry thee to her and commit to thee the governance of her affair and make thee king and ruler over this city.’ He thanked her and promised to uphold all that she should order him, and she said to him, ‘Go forth to such an one of the neighbouring provinces privily.’ So he went forth and on the morrow she made ready bales and gear and presents and bestowed on him a great matter, all of which they loaded on the backs of camels.

Then she gave out among the folk that the king’s father’s brother’s son was come and bade the grandees and troops go forth to meet him. Moreover, she decorated the city in his honour and the drums of good tidings beat for him, whilst all the king’s household [went out to meet him and] dismounting before him, [escorted him to the city and] lodged him with the queen-mother in her palace. Then she bade the chiefs of the state attend his assembly; so they presented themselves before him and saw of his breeding and accomplishments that which amazed them and made them forget the breeding of those who had foregone him of the kings.

When they were grown familiar with him, the queen-mother fell to sending [privily] for the amirs, one by one, and swearing them to secrecy; and when she was assured of their trustworthiness, she discovered to them that the king had left but a daughter and that she had done this but that she might continue the kingship in his family