vault and entered the [underground] hall, [FN#50] where she beheld
that which ravished the wit and saw the jars of gold. What while
they diverted themselves with gazing upon these latter, behold,
they espied a little jar of fine jade; so Zein ul Asnam opened it
and found in it a golden key. Whereupon quoth his mother to him,
"O my son, needs must there be a door here which this key will
open." Accordingly they sought in all parts of the vault and the
hall, so they might see an there were a door or what not else to
be found there, and presently espied a bolted lock, to which they
knew that this must be the key. So Zein ul Asnam went up and
putting the key in the lock, turned it and opened a door which
admitted them into a second hall, [FN#51] more magnificent than
the first; and it was all full of a light which dazzled the
sight, yet was there no flambeau kindled therein, no, nor any
window [FN#52] there, whereat they marvelled and looking farther,
saw eight images of jewels, each one piece, and that of noble
jewels, pure and precious.

Zein ul Asnam was amazed at this and said to his mother, "How
came my father by these things?" And they fell to looking and
considering, till presently the queen espied a curtain of silk,
whereon were these words written: "O my son, marvel not at these
great riches, whereto I have won by dint of sore travail; but
know that there existeth also another image whose worth is more
than that of these [eight] images twenty times told. Wherefore,
an thou wouldst come thereby, get thee to Cairo, where thou wilt
find a slave of mine, by name Mubarek, who will take thee and
bring thee in company [FN#53] with the ninth image. When thou
enterest Cairo, the first man whom thou encounterest will direct
thee to Mubarek's house, for he is known in all Egypt." [FN#54]