illusions, saying, "BIame her not for her failure to answer
thee." Moreover, she sent for the Vizier's son privily and
questioned him of the affair, whether the Lady Bedrulbudour's
speech was true or not; but he, of his fear to lose his bride,
lest she should go from his hand, said to her, "O my lady, I know
nothing of that which thou sayest;" wherefore the queen was
certified that there had betided her daughter illusions and a
dream.

The wedding rejoicings continued all that day, with dancing-women
and singing-women, and all the instruments of mirth and
minstrelsy were smitten, whilst the queen and the Vizier and his
son were exceeding assiduous in keeping up the festivities, so
the Lady Bedrulbudour should rejoice and her chagrin be
dispelled; nay, they left nought that day of that which exciteth
unto liesse but they did it before her, so she should leave what
was in her mind and be cheered. But all this had no effect on her
and she was silent and thoughtful and confounded at that which
had befallen her that night. True, the Vizier's son had fared
worse than she, for that he was couched in the draught-house; but
he belied [FN#401] the matter and put away that tribulation from
his thought, of his fear lest he should lose his bride and his
rank, [FN#402] more by token that all the folk envied him his lot,
for the much increase of honour it brought him, as also for the
exceeding beauty and loveliness of the Lady Bedrulbudour.

As for Alaeddin, he went out that day and saw the rejoicings
toward in the city and the palace and fell a-laughing, especially
when he heard the folk speak of the honour which had betided the
Vizier's son and the greatness of his good luck, in that he was