The sultan was very well pleased with the magician's conduct, and
said to her, 'Do as you think fit: I will wait patiently,' and to
encourage her, he made her a present of a diamond of great value,
telling her it was only an earnest of the ample reward she should
receive when she had done him that important service, which he left
to her management.

As Prince Ahmed, after he had obtained the fairy Pari Banou's leave
to go to the Sultan of the Indies' court, never failed once a
month, and the magician knew the time, she went a day or two before
to the foot of the rock where she had lost sight of the prince and
his attendants, and waited there with a plan she had formed.

The next morning Prince Ahmed went out as usual at the iron gate
with the same attendants as before, and passed by the magician,
whom he knew not to be such. Seeing her lie with her head on the
rock, complaining as if she were in great pain, he pitied her,
turned his horse about and went and asked her what was the matter,
and what he could do to relieve her.

The artful sorceress, without lifting up her head, looked at the
prince, and answered in broken words and sighs, as if she could
hardly fetch her breath, that she was going to the city, but on the
way thither was taken with so violent a fever that her strength
failed her, and she was forced to stop and lie down, far from any
habitation, and without any hope of assistance.

'Good woman,' replied Prince Ahmed, 'you are not so far from help
as you imagine. I am ready to assist you, and to convey you where