“What wouldst thou have?  I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands, both I and the other slaves of the lamp.”  “I command thee,” replied the magician, “to transport me immediately, and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa.”  The genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, the slaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, entire, to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it.

Early the next morning, when the sultan, according to custom, went to contemplate and admire Aladdin’s place, his amazement was unbounded to find that it could nowhere be seen.  He could not comprehend how so large a palace which he had seen plainly every day for some years, should vanish so soon, and not leave the least remains behind.  In his perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition.

The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin, intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of his palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected.  He induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state.  On his son-in-law being brought before him, he would not hear a word from him, but ordered him to be put to death.  The decree caused so much discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin had secured by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life.  When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan:  “Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost the favour of thy countenance.”  “Your crime!” answered the sultan, “wretched man! do you not know it?  Follow me, and I will show you.”  The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was wont to look at and admire his palace, and said, “You ought to know where your palace stood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of it.”  Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, was speechless.  At last recovering himself, he said, “It is true, I do not see the palace.  It is vanished; but I had no concern in its removal.  I beg you to give me forty days, and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure.”  “I give you the time you ask, but at the end of the forty days, forget not to present yourself before me.”