burning.  At this wonder took her; [FN#384]he went to an oilman’s shop there open and buying oil of him, said to him, “[I conjure thee] by thy life, O uncle, tell me what is toward to-day in this city, that the folk are making this decoration and the markets [are shut] and the houses all adorned and the troops drawn up in state?” Quoth he, “O woman, methinketh thou art a stranger and art not of this city.”  “Nay,” answered she, “but I am of this city;” and he said to her, “Thou art of this city and knowest not that this is the night of the going in of the Grand Vizier’s son to the Lady Bedrulbudour, the Sultan’s daughter?  Nay, he is presently in the bath and yonder Amirs and troops are drawn up awaiting him, against he come forth, so they may carry him in procession to the palace of the Sultan’s daughter.”

When Alaeddin’s mother heard this, she was troubled and perplexed in her wit how she should do to acquaint her son with this woeful news, for that the poor wretch was counting the hours till the three months should be ended.  So she returned home forthright and going in to Alaeddin, said to him, “O my son, I have news to tell thee, but it irketh me for thy chagrin therefrom.”  Quoth he, “Speak; what is the news?” And she said to him, “The Sultan hath gone from his promise to thee in the matter of his daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, for that this very night the Vizier’s son goeth in to her; and indeed methought at the time, [FN#385] O my son, the Vizier would change the Sultan’s mind, even as I told thee that he bespoke him privily before me.”  “How knewest thou this,” asked Alaeddin, “that the Vizier’s son goeth in this night to the Lady Bedrulbudour?” So she told him all she had seen of the decorations in the city, whenas she went to buy the oil, and how the eunuchs and chiefs of the state were drawn up awaiting the Vizier’s son, against he should come forth of the bath, for that this was the night of his going in.  When Alaeddin heard this, he fell into a fever of chagrin; [FN#386] but presently he bethought him of the lamp and rejoiced and said to his mother, “By thy life, O my mother, methinketh the Vizier’s son shall not rejoice in her, as thou deemest.  But now leave us be with this talk and go lay us the evening-meal, so we may sup; then, when I shall have passed a while in my chamber, all shall yet be well.”

Accordingly, [FN#387] after he had supped, he went into his chamber and locking the door on himself, fetched the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon the genie at once appeared to him and said, “Seek what thou wilt, for I am thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp, I and all the slaves of the lamp.”  And Alaeddin said to him, “Harkye, I sought of the Sultan to marry his daughter, and he appointed me for [FN#388] three months’ time; however, he abode not by his promise, but gave her to the Vizier’s son, and the latter purposeth to go in [to her] this night.  Wherefore I do presently command thee, as thou art a loyal servant