whole world over for ten years or more and search in its every corner and cranny, I shall never find aught so rare and precious as this tube of ivory.”  Then quoth he to the broker, “The virtues of thy pipe I find are indeed those thou hast described, and right willingly I give to thee its price the thirty thousand Ashrafis.”  Replied the sales-man, “O my lord, my master hath sworn an oath that he will not part with it for less than forty thousand gold pieces.”  Here-upon the Prince, understanding that the broker was a just man and a true, weighed out to him the forty thousand sequins and became master of the Spying Tube, enraptured with the thought that assuredly it would satisfy his sire and obtain for him the hand of Princess Nur al-Nihar.  So with mind at ease Ali journeyed through Shiraz and over sundry parts of Persia; and in fine, when the year was well nigh spent he joined a caravan and, travelling back to India, arrived safe and sound at the appointed caravanserai whither Prince Husayn had foregone him.  There the twain tarried awaiting the third brother’s safe return.  Such, O King Shahryar, is the story of the two brothers; and now I beseech thee incline thine ear and hearken to what befel the youngest, to wit Prince Ahmad; for indeed his adventure is yet more peregrine and seld-seen of all.  When he had parted from his brothers, he took the road leading to Samarkand; and, arriving there after long travel, he also like his brothers alighted at a Khan.  Next day he fared forth to see the market square, which folk call the Bazistan, and he found it fairly laid out, the shops wroughten with cunning workmanship and filled with rare stuffs and precious goods and costly merchandise.  Now as he wandered to and fro he came across a broker who was hawking a Magical Apple and crying aloud, “Who will buy this fruit, the price whereof be thirty-five thousand gold pieces?” Quoth Prince Ahmad to the man, “Prithee let me see the fruit thou holdest in hand, and explain to me what hidden virtue it possesseth that thou art asking for it so high a value.”  Quoth the other, smiling and handing to him the apple, “Marvel not at this, O good my lord:  in sooth I am certified that when I shall have explained its properties and thou shalt see how it advantageth all mankind, thou wilt not deem my demand exorbitant; nay, rather thou wilt gladly give a treasure house of gold so thou may possess it.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

       The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-eighth Night

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the broker said moreover to Prince Ahmad, “Now hearken to me, O my lord, and I will tell thee what of virtue lieth in this artificial apple.  If anyone be sick of a sickness however sore, nay more if he be ill nigh unto death, and perchance he smell this pome, he will forthwith recover and become well and whole of whatsoever disease he had, plague or pleurisy, fever or other malignant distemper, as though