On this wise they abode months and years and the queen-mother ceased not to do thus till the cook’s brother came to the town in his ship, and with him Selim.  So he landed with the youth and showed him to the queen, [that she might buy him].  When she saw him, she augured well of him; so she bought him from the cook’s brother and was kind to him and entreated him with honour.  Then she fell to proving him in his parts and making assay of him in his affairs and found in him all that is in kings’ sons of understanding and breeding and goodly manners and qualities.

So she sent for him in private and said to him, ’I purpose to do thee a service, so thou canst but keep a secret.’  He promised her all that she desired and she discovered to him her secret in the matter of her daughter, saying, ’I will marry thee to her and commit to thee the governance of her affair and make thee king and ruler over this city.’  He thanked her and promised to uphold all that she should order him, and she said to him, ’Go forth to such an one of the neighbouring provinces privily.’  So he went forth and on the morrow she made ready bales and gear and presents and bestowed on him a great matter, all of which they loaded on the backs of camels.

Then she gave out among the folk that the king’s father’s brother’s son was come and bade the grandees and troops go forth to meet him.  Moreover, she decorated the city in his honour and the drums of good tidings beat for him, whilst all the king’s household [went out to meet him and] dismounting before him, [escorted him to the city and] lodged him with the queen-mother in her palace.  Then she bade the chiefs of the state attend his assembly; so they presented themselves before him and saw of his breeding and accomplishments that which amazed them and made them forget the breeding of those who had foregone him of the kings.

When they were grown familiar with him, the queen-mother fell to sending [privily] for the amirs, one by one, and swearing them to secrecy; and when she was assured of their trustworthiness, she discovered to them that the king had left but a daughter and that she had done this but that she might continue the kingship in his family and that the governance should not go forth from them; after which she told them that she was minded to marry her daughter with the new-comer, her father’s brother’s son, and that he should be the holder of the kingship.  They approved of her proposal and when she had discovered the secret to the last of them [and assured herself of their support], she published the news abroad and sent for the cadis and assessors, who drew up the contract of marriage between Selim and the princess, and they lavished gifts upon the troops and overwhelmed them with bounties.  Then was the bride carried in procession to the young man and the kingship was stablished unto him and the governance of the realm.