Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/184

168 now fully convinced that I can depend on the fidelity of your love, I grant you leave to visit the sultan your father, on condition that your absence shall not be long. You can go when you please; but first let me give you some advice how you shall conduct yourself. Do not inform your father of our marriage, neither of my quality, nor the place of our residence. Beg of him to be satisfied with knowing that you are happy, and that the sole end of your visit is to make him easy respecting your fate."

After Prince Ahmed had expressed to Perie Banou his sincere gratitude, the fairy summoned twenty horsemen, well mounted and equipped, to attend him. When all was ready, Prince Ahmed took his leave of the fairy. A charger, which was most richly caparisoned, and as beautiful a creature as any in the sultan's stables, was brought to him, and he set forward on his journey.

As it was no great distance, Prince Ahmed soon arrived at his father's capital. The people received him with shouts and followed him in crowds to the palace. The sultan embraced him with great joy, complaining