The princess Badoura was withdrawn into the inner palace.  However, as soon as she heard of the captain’s return, and Camaralzaman’s arrival, she came forth to speak to him.  As soon as she cast her eyes on the prince, she knew the man for whom so many tears had been shed, though he was still in his gardener’s habit.  As for the prince, who trembled in the presence of a king, as he thought her, to whom he was to answer for an imaginary debt, it did not enter his thoughts that the person, whom he so earnestly desired to see, stood before him.  If the princess had followed the dictates of her inclination, she would have run to him, and, by embracing, discovered herself; but she put on herself a constraint, believing that it was for both their interests she should act the part of a king a little longer before making herself known.  She contented herself for the present to put him into the hands of an officer who was then in waiting, charging him to take care of him, and use him well, till next day.

When the princess Badoura had provided for prince Camaralaman’s entertainment, she turned to the captain, whom she was now to gratify for the important service he had done.  She commanded another officer to go immediately and take the seal off the warehouse where the goods belonging to him and the merchants were deposited, whom she discharged.  She also gave the master of the vessel a jewel worth much more than the expense he had been at in both his voyages.  She bade him, besides, keep the one thousand pieces of gold he had got for the pots of olives; telling him she would make up the account with the merchant he had brought with him.

This done, she retired to the princess of the isle of Ebene’s apartment, to whom she communicated her joy, praying her still to keep the secret.  She told her how she intended to manage their discovering themselves to each other, and to the kingdom; adding, that so vast was the distance between a gardener and a great prince, as he was, that it might be dangerous to raise him at once from the lowest condition of the people to the highest degree, though it was but justice it should be done.  The princess of the isle of Ebene was so far from betraying her, that she rejoiced, and entered into the design; assuring her she would contribute to it all that lay in her power, and do whatever she would desire to serve them.

Next morning the princess of China ordered prince Camaralzaman to be conducted to the royal baths, and apparelled in the robes of an emir or governor of a province.  She then went to the council, with the name, habit, and authority, of king of the island of Ebene.  She commanded Camaralzaman to be introduced; and his fine mien and majestic air drew upon him the eyes of all the lords who were present.