(whereof by the bye I had not tasted aught); and he did so and departed.  This is all I know and—­The Peace.”  Now when the Commander of the Faithful heard this from the Chamberlain, his heart was gladdened and he enquired, “O Alaeddin, what time the young lady drank the draught of water didst thou see her face or not?” and the Chamberlain replied in haste, “O Prince of True Believers, indeed I did see it.”  Hereat Harun was wroth with exceeding wrath and bade summon the daughter of Kisra and when she came bade the twain be beheaded saying, “Thou farest forth to do alms-deeds, and thou durst display thy features to this fellow when thou drankest water at his hand!” Hereat she turned her towards Alaeddin and replied, “Thou see my face!  Nay, this is but a lie that may work my death.”  He rejoined, “The Reed-pen wrote what ’twas bidden write![FN#110] I designed to say, ’Verily I beheld naught of her,’ and my tongue ran as it did the sooner to end our appointed life-term.”  Then having set the twain upon the rug of blood the Sworder bound their hands and tearing off a strip from their skirts bandaged their eyes, whereafter he walked around them and said, “By leave of the Commander of the Faithful;” and Harun cried, “Smite!” Then the Headsman paced around them a second time saying, “By leave of the Commander of the Faithful,” and Harun again cried, “Smite!” But when the executioner did in like manner for the third and last time[FN#111] quoth he to Alaeddin, “Hast thou haply in heart aught of regret or requirement that I may fulfil it to thee?  Ask of me anything save release, ere the Commander of the Faithful say the word and forthright thy head fall before thy feet?” “I desire,” quoth the Chamberlain, “that thou unbind this bandage from mine eyes so may I look one latest look at the world and at my friends, after which do thou work thy will.”  The Sworder granted this and Alaeddin glanced first to the right where he saw none to aidance dight, and then to the left where he found all favour reft; and the spectators each and every hung their heads groundwards for awe of the Caliph, nor did any take upon himself to utter a kindly word.  Whereupon the Chamberlain cried out his loudest saying, “A counsel, O Commander of the Faithful!” and Harun regarding him asked, “What is it thou counsellest?” “A respite of three days’ space,” rejoined the condemned, “when thou shalt see a marvel, indeed a miracle of miracles;” and the Caliph retorted, “After the third day, an I see not as thou sayest, I will assuredly smite thy neck;” and bade them bear him back to gaol.  But when the appointed term ended the Caliph sprang up and in his impatience to see what would befal him donned a dress distinctive of his new calling,[FN#112] and thrusting his feet into coarse shoon and high of heel[FN#113] and binding about his brows a honey-coloured turband[FN#114] he hent in hand a pellet-bow[FN#115] and slung its case over his shoulders:  he also took gold in pouch and thus equipped he left the palace.  Then,