the Lady Bedrulbudour’s story was true; whereupon quoth the Sultan, “Since the case is thus, we need no wedding-festivities.” [FN#418] And he bade forthright break off the rejoicings and the marriage was dissolved.  The folk and the people of the city marvelled at this strange thing, especially when they saw the Vizier and his son go forth the palace in a pitiable plight for stress of chagrin and despite, and they fell to asking, “What hath happened and why is the marriage avoided and the rejoicings broken off?” But none knew what was to do save Alaeddin, the suitor, [FN#419] who laughed in his sleeve.  So the marriage was annulled; but the Sultan had forgotten his promise to Alaeddin’s mother and never again bethought him thereof, neither he nor the Vizier; nor knew they whence came that which had happened.

Alaeddin waited till the three months had elapsed, after which the Sultan had promised that he would marry him to his daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, then despatched his mother to the Sultan to require him of the performance of his promise.  So she repaired to the palace and when the Sultan came to the Divan and saw her standing before him, he remembered his promise to her, that after three months he would marry his daughter to her son, and turning to the Vizier, said to him, “O Vizier, yonder is the woman who presented us with the jewels and we gave her our word that after three months [we would marry our daughter to her son].  Bring her before me forthright.”  So the Vizier went and brought Alaeddin’s mother before the Sultan; and when she came into the presence, she made her obeisance to him and prayed God to vouchsafe him glory and endurance of prosperity.  The Sultan asked her if she had a need, and she said to him, “O King of the Age, the three months are ended, after which thou didst promise me thou wouldst marry my son Alaeddin to thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour.”  The Sultan was perplexed at this her claim, more by token that he saw her in poor case, as she were the meanest of the folk; but the present which she had made him was exceeding magnificent [and indeed] beyond price; [FN#420] so he turned to the Vizier and said to him, “How deemest thou?  What shall we do? [FN#421] It is true I gave her my word, but meseemeth they are poor folk and not of the chiefs of the people.”

The [FN#422] Vizier, who was like to die of envy and chagrin for that which had befallen his son, said in himself, “How shall one like this marry the Sultan’s daughter and my son lose this honour?” So he said to the Sultan, [FN#423] “O my lord, it is an easy matter to rid ourselves of [FN#424] this vagabond, [FN#425] for that it would not beseem Thy Grace to give thy daughter to a man like this, of whom it is not known what he is.”  Quoth the Sultan, “On what wise shall we rid ourselves of this man, seeing I have given him my word and a King’s word is his bond?” “O my lord,” answered the Vizier, “my counsel is that thou require of him forty dishes of pure virgin