it awhile, thereby conferring the highmost of honours upon ourselves and upon our sister.  Albeit the place is not worthy of the Shahinshah’s exalted presence, yet at times do mighty Kings condescend to visit the huts of their slaves.”  The King, ever more and more enchanted with their comeliness and pleasant speech, vouchsafed a most gracious answer, saying, “The dwelling place of youths in your estate and degree will certainly be goodly and right worthy of you; and the Shah willingly consenteth for the morrow to become the guest of you twain and of your sister whom, albeit he have not yet seen, he is assured to find perfect in all gifts of body and mind.  Do ye twain therefore about early dawn-tide expect the Shah at the usual trysting-place.”  The Princes then craved leave to wend their ways; and going home said to their sister, “O Perizadah, the Shah hath decreed that to-morrow he will come to our house and rest here awhile after the hunt.”  Said she, “An so it be, needs must we see to it that all be made ready for a royal banquet and we may not be put to shame when the Shadow of Allah shall deign shade us.  There is no help but that in this matter I ask of my slave, the Speaking-Bird, what counsel he would give; and that I prepare according thereto such meats as are meet for him and are pleasing to the royal palate.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

      The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Princes both approved of her plan and went to seek repose; whereupon Perizadah sent for the cage and setting it before her said, “O Bird, the Shah hath made a promise and hath decreed that he will deign honour this our house on the morrow, wherefore we must needs make ready for our liege lord the best of banquets and I bid thee say me what dishes should the kitcheners cook for him?” The Speaking-Bird replied, “O my lady, thou hast the most skilful of cooks and confectioners.  Do thou bid them dress for thee the choicest dainties, but above all others see thou with thine own eyes that they set before the Shah a dish of new green cucumbers stuffed with pearls.”  Quoth the Princess in utter wonderment, “Never until this time heard I of such a dainty!  How?  Cucumbers with a filling of pearls!  And what will the King, who cometh to eat bread and not to gaze on stones, say to such meat?  Furthermore, I have not in my possession pearls enough to serve for even a single cucumber.”  Replied the Speaking-Bird, “This were an easy matter:  do thou dread naught but only act as I shall advise thee.  I seek not aught save thy welfare and would on no wise counsel thee to thy disadvantage.  As for the pearls thou shalt collect them on this wise:  go thou to-morrow betimes to the pleasure-gardens and bid a hole be dug at the foot of the first tree in the avenue by thy right hand, and there shalt thou find of pearls as large a store as thou shalt require.”