frowned and returned him no answer, but looked at him sullenly,
as she were in sorry case. He was wroth with her, for that she
made him no answer, and thought that something had betided her;
so he drew the sword and said to her, "What hath befallen thee?
Either thou shalt tell me what aileth thee or I will do away thy
life this very moment. Is this the respect that is due to my rank
and the honour in which thou holdest me, that I bespeak thee and
thou answerest me not a word?"

When the Lady Bedrulbudour knew that her father was angry and saw
the naked sword in his hand, she was like to swoon for
fear; [FN#405] so she raised her head and said to him,
"Dear [FN#406] my father, be not wroth with me, neither be thou
hasty in thine anger, for that I am excusable in that which thou
hast seen from me. [FN#407] Do but hearken what hath betided me
and I am well assured that, whenas thou hearest my story of that
which hath happened to me these two nights past, thou wilt excuse
me and Thy Grace will be moved to compassion upon me, as I know
from thy love for me." [FN#408] Then she acquainted him with all
that had befallen her and said to him, "O my father, an thou
believe me not, ask my bridegroom and he will resolve Thy Grace
of everything, albeit I know not what they did with him, when
they took him from my side, nor where they set him." When [FN#409]
the Sultan heard his daughter's story, he was sore concerned and
his eyes brimmed with tears; then, sheathing the sword and coming
up to her, he kissed her and said to her, "O my daughter, why
didst thou not tell me yesterday, so I might have warded off from
thee the torment and affright which have befallen thee this
night? But no matter; arise and put away from thee this thought,
and to-night I will set over thee those who shall guard thee, so