thou art a stranger and comest from afar; but, granting thou art from a far country, hast thou not heard of the Amir Alaeddin, whose repute, methought, filled the earth, and of his palace, a wonder of the world, whereof both far and near have heard?  How is it thou hast heard nought of this nor of the name of Alaeddin, whom Our Lord increase in glory and prosper?” Quoth the Maugrabin, " Marry, it is the utmost of my wish to look upon the palace; so, an thou wouldst do me a kindness, direct me thither, for that I am a stranger.”  “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the other and going before him, guided him to Alaeddin’s palace.

The Maugrabin fell to examining it and knew that this all of it was the work of the Lamp; so he said, “Alack!  Alack!  Needs must I dig a pit for this accursed one, this tailor’s son, who could not come by a night’s supper; but, an destiny enable me, I will send his mother back to spin at her wheel, like as she did erst, and as for him, it shall cost him [FN#556] his life.”  Then he returned to the khan in a woeful state of chagrin and colour and despite, for envy of Alaeddin, and [FN#557] taking his geomantic instruments, [FN#558] smote his [tablet of] sand, so he might learn where the lamp was, and found that it was in the palace and not with Alaeddin; [FN#559] whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said, “Now it will be an easy matter for me to bereave this accursed of his life and I have a way to come at the lamp.”  Accordingly he went to a coppersmith and said to him, “Make me so many [FN#560] lamps [FN#561] and take of me their worth in full; [FN#562] but I will have thee despatch them quickly.”  “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the smith and falling to work on them, speedily despatched them for him.  When they were finished, the Maugrabin paid him their price, even that which he sought, and taking the lamps, carried them to the khan, where he laid them in a basket and fell to going round about in the markets and thoroughfares of the city and crying out, “Ho! who will barter an old lamp for a new lamp?” When the folk heard him crying this, they laughed at him and said, “Certes, this man is mad, since he goeth about, bartering new lamps for old.”  Moreover, people [FN#563] followed him and the street-boys caught him up from place to place [FN#564] and laughed at him.  However, he fended not himself neither took heed of this, but ceased not to go round about the city till he came under Alaeddin’s palace, where he fell to crying his loudest, whilst the children called after him, “Madman!  Madman!”

Now as fate willed it, the Lady Bedrulbudour was in the kiosk and hearing one crying out and the boys calling after him and understanding not what was toward, bade one of the slave-girls “Go see what is this man who crieth out and what he crieth.”  So the girl went and looking, saw one crying out, “Ho, who will barter an old lamp for a new lamp?” with the boys after him, laughing at him; so she returned