the wine of his country. He will go for some
and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”
She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left
she arrayed herself gaily for the first time since
she left China. She put on a girdle and head-dress
of diamonds, and, seeing in a glass that she was more
beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying,
to his great amazement: “I have made up
my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears
will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to
mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup
with me; but I am tired of the wines of China, and
would fain taste those of Africa.” The
magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the
powder Aladdin had given her in her cup. When
he returned she asked him to drink her health in the
wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for
his, as a sign she was reconciled to him. Before
drinking the magician made her a speech in praise
of her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying:
“Let us drink first, and you shall say what
you will afterward.” She set her cup to
her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained
his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. The
Princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung
her arms round his neck; but Aladdin put her away,
bidding her leave him, as he had more to do.
He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out
of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and
all in it back to China. This was done, and the
Princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks,
and little thought she was at home again.
The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning
for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed
his eyes, for there stood the palace as before!
He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the
hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the Princess
at his side. Aladdin told him what had happened,
and showed him the dead body of the magician, that
he might believe. A ten days’ feast was
proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now
live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not
to be.
The African magician had a younger brother, who was,
if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself.
He traveled to China to avenge his brother’s
death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima,
thinking she might be of use to him. He entered
her cell and clapped a dagger to her breast, telling
her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death.
He changed clothes with her, colored his face like
hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, that she
might tell no tales. Then he went toward the
palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he
was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his
hands and begging his blessing. When he got to
the palace there was such a noise going on round him
that the Princess bade her slave look out of the window
and ask what was the matter. The slave said it
was the holy woman, curing people by her touch of
their ailments, whereupon the Princess, who had long