So he went out to them and questioned them of their case, whereupon, “Return to thy lord,” answered they, “and question him of Prince El Abbas, if he have come unto him, for that he left his father King El Aziz a full-told year agone, and indeed longing for him troubleth the king and he hath levied a part of his army and his guards and is come forth in quest of his son, so haply he may light upon tidings of him.”  Quoth the eunuch, “Is there amongst you a brother of his or a son?” “Nay, by Allah!” answered they.  “But we are all his mamelukes and the boughten of his money, and his father El Aziz hath despatched us to make enquiry of him.  So go thou to thy lord and question him of the prince and return to us with that which he shall answer you.”  “And where is King El Aziz?” asked the eunuch; and they replied, “He is encamped in the Green Meadow."[FN#96]

The eunuch returned and told the king, who said, “Indeed, we have been neglectful with regard to El Abbas.  What shall be our excuse with the king?  By Allah, my soul misdoubted me that the youth was of the sons of the kings!” The Lady Afifeh, his wife, saw him lamenting for [his usage of] El Abbas and said to him, “O king, what is it thou regrettest with this exceeding regret?” Quoth he, “Thou knowest the stranger youth, who gave us the rubies?” “Assuredly,” answered she; and he said, “Yonder youths, who have halted in the palace court, are his mamelukes, and his father King El Aziz, lord of Yemen, hath pitched his camp in the Green Meadow; for he is come with his army to seek him, and the number of his troops is [four-and-] twenty thousand men.” [Then he went out from her], and when she heard his words, she wept sore for him and had compassion on his case and sent after him, counselling him to send for the mamelukes and lodge them [in the palace] and entertain them.

The king gave ear to her counsel and despatching the eunuch for the mamelukes, assigned them a lodging and said to them, “Have patience, till the king give you tidings of your lord El Abbas.”  When they heard his words, their eyes ran over with plenteous tears, of their much longing for the sight of their lord.  Then the king bade the queen enter the privy chamber[FN#97] and let down the curtain[FN#98] [before the door thereof].  So she did this and he summoned them to his presence.  When they stood before him, they kissed the earth, to do him worship, and showed forth their breeding[FN#99] and magnified his dignity.  He bade them sit, but they refused, till he conjured them by their lord El Abbas.  So they sat down and he caused set before them food of various kinds and fruits and sweetmeats.  Now within the Lady Afifeh’s palace was an underground way communicating with the palace of the princess Mariyeh.  So the queen sent after her and she came to her, whereupon she made her stand behind the curtain and gave her to know that El Abbas was the king’s son of Yemen and that these were his mamelukes.  Moreover, she told her that the prince’s