at his door, and, on the prince opening it, says that he brings him his rags of clothes and is required to take back the dress which the kazi had lent him yesterday to personate the prince of Basra.  The prince, having donned his tattered garments, said to his wife, “The kazi thinks he has married you to a wretched beggar, but I am no whit inferior in rank to the prince of Basra—­I am also a prince, being the only son of the king of Mosel,” and then proceeded to recount all his adventures.  When he had concluded his recital, the lady despatched a servant to procure a suitable dress for the prince, which when he had put on, she said, “I see it all:  the kazi no doubt, believes that by this time we are all overwhelmed with shame and grief.  But what must be his feelings when he learns that he has been a benefactor to his enemies!  Before you disclose to him your real rank, however, we must contrive to punish him for his malicious intentions.  There is a dyer in this town who has a frightfully ugly daughter—­ but leave this affair in my hands.”

The lady then dressed herself in plain but becoming apparel, and went out of the house alone.  She proceeded to the court of the kazi, who no sooner cast his eyes upon her than he was struck with her elegant form.  He sent an officer to inquire of her who she was and what she had come about.  She made answer that she was the daughter of an artisan in the city. and that she desired to have some private conversation with the kazi.  When the officer reported the lady’s reply, the kazi directed her to be conducted into a private chamber, where he presently joined her, and gallantly placed his services at her disposal.  The lady now removed her veil, and asked him whether he saw anything ugly or repulsive in her features.  The kazi on seeing her beautiful face was suddenly plunged in the sea of love, and declared that her forehead was of polished silver, her eyes were sparkling diamonds, her mouth a ruby casket containing a bracelet of pearls.  Then she displayed her arms, so white and plump, the sight of which threw the kazi into ecstasies and almost caused him to faint.  Quoth the lady, “I must tell you, my lord, that with all the beauty I possess, my father, a dyer in the city, keeps me secluded, and declares to all who come to ask me in marriage that I am an ugly, deformed monster, a mere skeleton, lame, and full of diseases.”  On this the kazi burst into a tirade against the brutal father who could thus traduce so much beauty, and vowed that he would make her his wife that same day.  The lady, after expressing her fears that he would not find it easy to gain her father’s consent, took her leave and returned home.