The next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak, without taking
leave either of the sultan or of any of his court, according to
custom. The magician, seeing him coming, followed him with her
eyes, till all of a sudden she lost sight of him and his
attendants.

The steepness of the rocks formed an insurmountable barrier to men,
whether on horseback or on foot, so that the magician judged that
there were but two ways; the prince had retired either into some
cavern, or into some place underground, the abode of genies or
fairies. When she thought the prince and his attendants were out of
sight, she came out of the place where she had hidden herself, and
went direct to the hollow where she had seen them go in. She
entered it, and proceeded to the spot where it terminated in many
windings, looking carefully about on all sides. But notwithstanding
all her diligence she could perceive no opening, nor the iron gate
which Prince Ahmed discovered. For this door was to be seen by and
opened to none but men, and only to men whose presence was
agreeable to the fairy Pari Banou, and not at all to women.

The magician, who saw it was in vain for her to search any further,
was obliged to be satisfied with the discovery she had made, and
returned to give the sultan an account. When she had told him what
she had done, she added, 'Your majesty may easily understand, after
what I have had the honour to tell you, that it will be no
difficult matter to give you the satisfaction you desire concerning
Prince Ahmed's conduct. To do this, I only ask time, and that you
will have patience, and give me leave to do it without inquiring
what measures I intend to take.'