By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads met in the middle of the forest.  Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait for him, and leading the groom’s horse into a dense part of the wood he cut its throat, dipped the prince’s coat in its blood, and having rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted.

In answer to Camaralzaman’s inquiries as to the reason for this, Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince’s death.  “Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief,” he went on, “but his joy at your return will be all the greater.”

The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses they met with no needless delays.  At length they reached the capital of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging to recover from their fatigues.

During this time Marzavan had an astrologer’s dress prepared for the prince.  They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the astrologer’s robe and was conducted within sight of the king’s palace by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the princess’s nurse.

Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan’s instructions, advanced close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: 

“I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the conditions laid down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, or of losing my life if I fail.”

It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd soon gathered round the prince.  On perceiving his youth, good looks, and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him.

“What are you thinking of, sir,” exclaimed some; “why expose yourself to certain death?  Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall sufficient warning?  For mercy’s sake give up this mad idea and retire whilst you can.”

But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater assurance, to the horror of the crowd.

“He is resolved to die!” they cried; “may heaven have pity on him!”

Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in.

The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man to renounce his project.

But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the princess’s apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence.