the pavilion to find if there be a door or aught like thereto, and presently, seeing a wooden lock fast barred, they knew wherefor the key was intended.  Presently the Prince applied it and opened the lock, whereupon the door of a palace gave admittance, and when the twain entered they found it more spacious than the first pavilion and all illumined with a light which dazed the sight; yet not a wax-candle lit it up nor indeed was there a recess for lamps.  Hereat they marvelled and meditated and presently they discovered eight images[FN#22] of precious stones, all seated upon as many golden thrones, and each and every was cut of one solid piece; and all the stones were pure and of the finest water and most precious of price.  Zayn al-Asnam was confounded hereat and said to his mother, “Whence could my sire have obtained all these rare things?” And the twain took their pleasure in gazing at them and considering them and both wondered to see a ninth throne unoccupied, when the Queen espied a silken hanging whereon was inscribed, “O my son, marvel not at this mighty wealth which I have acquired by sore stress and striving travail.  But learn also that there existeth a Ninth Statue whose value is twenty-fold greater than these thou seest and, if thou would win it, hie thee again to Cairo-city.  There thou shalt find a whilome slave of mine Mubarak[FN#23] hight and he will take thee and guide thee to the Statue; and ’twill be easy to find him on entering Cairo:  the first person thou shalt accost will point out the house to thee, for that Mubarak is known throughout the place.”  When Zayn al-Asnam had read this writ he cried:  “O my mother, ’tis again my desire to wend my way Cairo-wards and seek out this image; so do thou say how seest thou my vision, fact or fiction, after thou assuredst me saying, ‘This be an imbroglio of sleep?’ However, at all events, O my mother, now there is no help for it but that I travel once more to Cairo.”  Replied she, “O my child, seeing that thou be under the protection of the Apostle of Allah (whom may He save and assain!) so do thou fare in safety, while I and thy Wazir will order thy reign in thine absence till such time as thou shalt return.”  Accordingly the Prince went forth and gat him ready and rode on till he reached Cairo where he asked for Mubarak’s house.  The folk answered him saying, “O my lord, this be a man than whom none is wealthier or greater in boon deeds and bounties, and his home is ever open to the stranger.”  Then they showed him the way and he followed it till he came to Mubarak’s mansion where he knocked at the door and a slave of the black slaves opened to him.—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

         When it was the Five Hundred and First Night,