to the palace and when the Sultan came to the Divan and saw her
standing before him, he remembered his promise to her, that after
three months he would marry his daughter to her son, and turning
to the Vizier, said to him, "O Vizier, yonder is the woman who
presented us with the jewels and we gave her our word that after
three months [we would marry our daughter to her son]. Bring her
before me forthright." So the Vizier went and brought Alaeddin's
mother before the Sultan; and when she came into the presence,
she made her obeisance to him and prayed God to vouchsafe him
glory and endurance of prosperity. The Sultan asked her if she
had a need, and she said to him, "O King of the Age, the three
months are ended, after which thou didst promise me thou wouldst
marry my son Alaeddin to thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour." The
Sultan was perplexed at this her claim, more by token that he saw
her in poor case, as she were the meanest of the folk; but the
present which she had made him was exceeding magnificent [and
indeed] beyond price; [FN#420] so he turned to the Vizier and said
to him, "How deemest thou? What shall we do? [FN#421] It is true I
gave her my word, but meseemeth they are poor folk and not of the
chiefs of the people."

The [FN#422] Vizier, who was like to die of envy and chagrin for
that which had befallen his son, said in himself, "How shall one
like this marry the Sultan's daughter and my son lose this
honour?" So he said to the Sultan, [FN#423] "O my lord, it is an
easy matter to rid ourselves of [FN#424] this vagabond, [FN#425]
for that it would not beseem Thy Grace to give thy daughter to a
man like this, of whom it is not known what he is." Quoth the
Sultan, "On what wise shall we rid ourselves of this man, seeing
I have given him my word and a King's word is his bond?" "O my