to see thee a guest in this my palace, and I joy even more to learn that thou be wholly quit of thy sickness.  So now solace thy spirits with walking all round about the place and my servants will accompany thee and show thee what there is worthy of thine inspection.”  Hereat the Witch again louted low and kissed the carpet under Peri-Banu’s feet, and took leave of her hostess in goodly phrase and with great show of gratitude for her favours.  The handmaids then led her round the palace and displayed to her all the rooms, which dazed and dazzled her sight so that she could not find words to praise them sufficiently.  Then she went her ways and the fairies escorted her past the iron doorway whereby Prince Ahmad had brought her in, and left her, bidding her God-speed and blessing her; and the foul crone with many thanks took the road to her own home.  But when she had walked to some distance she was minded to see the iron door, so might she with ease know it again; so she went back, but lo and behold! the entrance had vanished and was invisible to her as to all other women.  Accordingly, after searching on all sides and pacing to and fro and finding nor sign nor trace of palace or portal, she repaired in despair to the city and, creeping along a deserted path-way, entered the palace, according to her custom, by the private postern.  When safely within she straightway sent word by an eunuch to the Sultan, who ordered that she be brought before him.  She approached him with troubled countenance, whereat, perceiving that she had failed to carry out her purpose, he asked, “What news?  Hast thou accomplished thy design or hast thou been baffled therein?” —­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

       The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Sorceress, who was a mere creature of the malicious Wazir, replied, “O King of kings, this matter have I fully searched out even as thou gavest command, and I am about to tell thee all that hath betided me.  The signs of sorrow and marks of melancholy thou notest upon my countenance are for other cause which narrowly concerneth thy welfare.”  Then she began to recount her adventure in these terms, “Now when I had reached the rocks I sat me down feigning sickness; and, as Prince Ahmad passed that way and heard my complaining and saw my grievous condition, he had compassion on me.  After some ‘said and say’ he took me with him by a subterranean passage and through an iron door to a magnificent palace and gave me in charge of a fairy, Peri-Banu hight, of passing beauty and loveliness, such as human eye hath never yet seen.  Prince Ahmad bade her make me her guest for some few days and bring me a medicine which would complete my cure, and she to please him at once appointed handmaidens to attend upon me.  So I was certified that the twain were one flesh, husband and wife.  I feigned to be exceeding frail and feeble and made as though