to him. Then he turned the ascending-pin and the horse took
flight and soared with them high in air, till they disappeared
from every eye. After this the King abode half the day, expecting
their return; but they returned not. So when he despaired of
them, repenting him greatly of that which he had done and
grieving sore for the loss of the damsel, he went back to the
city with his troops. He then sent for the Persian who was in
prison and said to him, "O thou traitor, O thou villian, why
didst thou hide from me the mystery of the ebony horse? And now a
sharper hath come to me and hath carried it off, together with a
slave-girl whose ornaments are worth a mint of money, and I shall
never see anyone or anything of them again!" So the Persian
related to him all his past, first and last, and the King was
seized with a fit of fury which well-nigh ended his life. He shut
himself up in his palace for a while, mourning and afflicted; but
at last his Wazirs came in to him and applied themselves to
comfort him, saying, "Verily, he who took the damsel is an
enchanter, and praised be Allah who hath delivered thee from his
craft and sorcery!" And they ceased not from him, till he was
comforted for her loss. Thus far concerning the King; but as for
the Prince, he continued his career towards his father's capital
in joy and cheer, and stayed not till he alighted on his own
palace, where he set the lady in safety; after which he went in
to his father and mother and saluted them and acquainted them
with her coming, whereat they were filled with solace and
gladness. Then he spread great banquets for the towns-folk,--And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-first Night,