Bedrulbudour, there is somewhat whereof I would ask thee, before
all things. I used to lay an old copper lamp in such a place in
my pavilion . . ." When the princess heard this, she sighed and
answered him, saying, "O my beloved, it was that which was the
cause of our falling into this calamity." [FN#590] Quoth he, "How
came this about?" So she acquainted him with the whole matter
from first to last, telling him how they had bartered the old
lamp for a new one; "and next morning," added she, "we found
ourselves in this country and he who had cozened me and changed
the lamp told me that he had wroughten these tricks upon us of
the might of his magic, by means of the lamp and that he is a
Maugrabin from Africa [FN#591] and that we are now in his native
land." When [FN#592] she had made an end of her story, Alaeddin
said to her, "Tell me, what does this accursed one purpose with
thee; what saith he to thee and of what doth he bespeak thee and
what is his will of thee?" "Every day," answered the princess,
"he cometh to me once and no more and seeketh to draw me to his
love, willing me take him in thy stead and forget and renounce
thee; nay, he told me that my father the Sultan had cut off thy
head. Moreover, he useth to say to me of thee that thou art the
son of poor folk and that he was the cause of thine enrichment
and seeketh to cajole me with talk, but never hath he seen of me
aught but tears and weeping or heard from me one soft
word." [FN#593] Quoth Alaeddin, "Tell me where he layeth the lamp,
an thou knowest." And she said, "He still carrieth it [about him]
nor will part with it a moment; nay, when he acquainted me with
that whereof I have told thee, he brought out the lamp from his
sleeve and showed it to me"

When Alaeddin heard this, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and