Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/244

228                  THE JADE STORY BOOK Mobarec. "But how can you convince me that you are his son?"

"My father," rejoined Zeyn, "had a subterraneous place under his private room in which I have found forty porphyry urns full of gold."

"And what more is there?" said Mobarec.

"Nine pedestals of massive gold," answered the prince, "on eight whereof are as many diamond statues, and on the ninth a piece of white satin, on which my father has written what I am to do to procure another statue, more valuable than all those together. You know where that statue is, for it is mentioned on the satin that you will conduct me to it."

As soon as he had spoken these words, Mobarec fell down at his feet, and kissing one of his hands several times, said: "I bless God for having brought you hither. I know you to be the Sultan of Bussorah's son. If you will go to the place where the wonderful statue is, I will conduct you; but you must first rest here for a short time. This day I entertain the great men of the city. Will