him on various themes; all this while the royal senses being confounded at the grandeur around him and the rarities in that Palace.  Presently the Shaykh said to his Scholar, “Knock thou at this door and bid our breakfast be brought in.”  So the young man arose and rapped and called out, “Bring in the breakfast;” when lo! the door was opened and there came out of it an hundred Mamelukes[FN#127] of the Book, each bearing upon his head a golden tray, whereon were set dishes of precious metals; and these, which were filled with breakfast-meats of all kinds and colours, they ranged in order before the Sultan.  He was surprised at the sight for that he had naught so splendid in his own possession; but he came forwards and ate, as likewise did the Shaykh and all the courtiers until they were satisfied.  And after this they drank coffee and sherbets, and the Sultan and the Shaykh fell to conversing on questions of lore:  the King was edified by the words of the Sage who on his part sat respectfully between the Sovran’s hands.  Now when it was well nigh noon, the Shaykh again said to his Scholar, “Knock thou at that door and bid our noonday-meal be brought in.”  He arose and rapped and called out, “Bring in the dinner;” when lo! the door opened of itself and there came out of it an hundred white slaves all other than the first train and each bearing a tray upon his head.  They spread the Sufrah-cloth before the Sultan and ranged the dishes, and he looked at the plates and observed that they were of precious metals and stones; whereat he was more astonished than before and he said to himself, “In very deed this be a miracle!” So all ate their sufficiency when basins and ewers, some of gold and others of various noble ores, were borne round and they washed their hands, after which the Shaykh said, “O King, at how much hast thou valued for us the dower of thy daughter?” The Sovran replied, “My daughter’s dower is already in my hands.”  This he said of his courtesy and respect, but the Shaykh replied, “Marriage is invalid save with a dower.”  He then presented to him a mint of money and the tie of wedlock was duly tied; after which he rose and brought for his guest a pelisse of furs such as the Sultan never had in his treasury and invested him therewith and he gave rich robes to each and every of his courtiers according to their degree.  The Sultan then took leave of the Shaykh and accompanied by the Scholar returned to the Palace.—­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say.  Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Sixty-first Night,