overpass thy sash." And Zein ul Asnam said to him, "Hearkening
and obedience." "And be this thy salutation to him," continued
Mubarek; "thou shalt say, 'O King of the Jinn and lord of the
earth, my father, the Sultan of Bassora, the angel of death hath
removed, as indeed is not hidden from thee. Now Thy Grace was
still wont to take my father under thy protection, and I come to
thee likewise to put myself under thy safeguard, even as did he.'
Moreover, [FN#87] O my lord Zein ul Asnam," added he, "an the King
of the Jinn receive us with a cheerful favour, he will without
fail ask thee and say to thee, 'Seek of me that which thou
wiliest and thou shalt forthright be given [it].' [FN#88] So do
thou seek of him and say to him, 'O my lord, I crave of Thy Grace
the ninth image, than which there is not the world a more
precious; and indeed Thy Grace promised my father that thou
wouldst give it to me."'

Having thus taught his lord how he should speak with the King of
the Jinn and seek of him the ninth image and how he should make
his speech seemly and pleasant, Mubarek fell to conjuring and
fumigating and reciting words that might not be understanded; and
no great while passed ere the world lightened [FN#89] and rain
fell in torrents [FN#90] and it thundered and darkness covered the
face of the earth; and after this there came a tempestuous wind
and a voice like an earthquake of the earthquakes [FN#91] of the
Day of Resurrection. When Zein ul Asnam saw these portents, his
joints trembled and he was sore affrighted, for that he beheld a
thing he had never in all his life seen nor heard. But Mubarek
laughed at him and said to him, "Fear not, O my lord; this
whereat thou art affrighted is that which we seek; nay, it is a
presage of good to-us. So take heart and be of good cheer." After