Prince Ahmed made no answer, but was so full of gratitude that he
thought he could not express it better than by coming to kiss the
hem of her garment. 'Then,' answered the fairy, 'you are my
husband, and I am your wife. But as I suppose,' continued she,
'that you have eaten nothing to-day, a slight repast shall be
served up for you while preparations are making for our wedding
feast this evening, and then I will show you the apartments of my
palace, and you shall judge if this hall is the smallest part of
it.'

Some of the fairy's women who came into the hall with them, and
guessed her intentions, immediately went out, and returned
presently with some excellent meat and wine.

When Prince Ahmed had eaten and drunk as much as he wanted, the
fairy Pari Banou took him through all the rooms, where he saw
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all sorts of fine jewels,
intermixed with pearls, agate, jasper, porphyry, and all kinds of
the most precious marbles; not to mention the richness of the
furniture, everything was in such profusion, that the prince
acknowledged that there could not be anything in the world that
could come up to it. 'Prince,' said the fairy, 'if you admire so
much my palace, which is indeed very beautiful, what would you say
to the palaces of the chiefs of our genies, which are much more
beautiful, spacious, and magnificent? I could also charm you with
my garden; but we will leave that till another time. Night draws
near, and it will be time for supper.'

The next hall into which the fairy led the prince, where the cloth