“He carries it about with him,” said the princess, “I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me.  He wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father’s command.  He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my tears.  If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence.”

Aladdin comforted her, and left her for awhile.  He changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door.

“Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said to her, “and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me.  Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country.  He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”

She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself gayly for the first time since she left China.  She put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great amazement:  “I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa.”

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup.  When he returned she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as a sign she was reconciled to him.

Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the princess cut him short, saying:—­

“Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards.”  She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless.

The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had more to do.  He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China.  This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and little thought she was at home again.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before!  He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side.  Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe.  A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not to be.