this there came a great clearness and serenity and there breathed
pure and fragrant breezes; then, presently, behold, there
appeared the King of the Jinn in the semblance of a man comely of
favour, there was none like unto him in his goodliness, save He
who hath no like and to whom belong might and majesty. He looked
on Zein ul Asnam and Mubarek with a cheerful, smiling
countenance; whereupon the prince arose forthright and proffered
him his petition in the words which Mubarek had taught him.

The King of the Jinn turned to him, smiling, and said to him, "O
Zein ul Asnam, indeed I loved thy father the Sultan of Bassora,
and I used, whenassoever he came to me, to give him an image of
those which thou hast seen, each wroughten of a single jewel, and
thou also shalt stand in thy father's stead with me and shalt
find favour in mine eyes, even as did he, ay, and more. Before he
died, I caused him write the writ which thou sawest on the
curtain of silk and promised him that I would take thee under my
protection, even as himself, and would give thee the ninth image,
which is more of worth than those which thou hast seen. Now it is
my intent to perform the promise which I made to thy father, that
I would take thee under my protection, and [FN#92] [know that] I
was the old man whom thou sawest in thy sleep and it was I bade
thee dig in the palace for the vault wherein thou foundest the
jars of gold and the images of jewels. I know also wherefore thou
art come hither; nay, I am he that was the cause of thy coming,
and I will give thee that which thou seekest, albeit I had not
given it to thy father; but on condition that thou swear to me a
solemn oath and abide me constant thereto, to wit, that thou wilt
return and bring me a girl of the age of fifteen years, with whom
there shall be none to match in loveliness, and she must be a