Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at the sultan his father's
court, and on the fourth returned to the fairy Pari Banou, who
received him with great joy, as she did not expect him so soon.

A month after Prince Ahmed's return from paying a visit to his
father, as the fairy Pari Banou had observed that since the time
that the Prince gave her an account of his journey and his
conversation with his father, in which he asked his leave to come
and see him from time to time, he had never spoken of the sultan,
as if there had been no such person in the world, whereas before he
was always speaking of him, she said to him one day, 'Tell me,
prince, have you forgotten the sultan your father? Do you not
remember the promise you made to go and see him from time to time?
For my part, I have not forgotten what you told me at your return,
and put you in mind of it. Pay him another visit to-morrow, and
after that go and see him once a month, without speaking to me, or
waiting for my leave. I readily consent.'

Prince Ahmed went the next morning with the same attendants as
before, but much finer, and himself more magnificently mounted,
equipped, and dressed, and was received by the sultan with the same
joy and satisfaction. For several months he constantly paid him
visits, and always in a richer and more brilliant equipage.

At last some viziers, the sultan's favourites, who judged of Prince
Ahmed's grandeur and power by the figure he made, abused the
liberty the sultan gave them of speaking to him, to make him
jealous of his son. They represented to him that it was but common
prudence to know where the prince had retired, and how he could