This address embarrassed the princess Badoura inexpressibly.  She did not doubt the truth of what Haiatalnefous had said.  King Armanos’s coldness to her the day before had given her but too much reason to see he was highly dissatisfied with her.  The only way to justify her conduit was, to communicate her sex to the princess Haiatalnefous.  But though she had foreseen she should be under a necessity of making such a discovery to her, yet her uncertainty as to the manner in which she would receive it, made her tremble; but, considering that if Kummir al Zummaun was alive, he must necessarily touch at the isle of Ebene in his way to his father’s kingdom, she ought to preserve herself for his sake; and that it was impossible to do this, if she did not let the princess Haiatalnefous know who and what she was, she resolved to venture the experiment.

The princess Badoura stood as one who had been struck dumb, and Haiatalnefous being impatient to hear what she could say, was about to speak to her again, when she prevented her by these words:  “Lovely and too charming princess!  I own I have been in the wrong, and I condemn myself for it; but I hope you will pardon me, and keep the secret I am going to reveal to you for my justification.”

She then opened her bosom, and proceeded thus:  “See, princess, if a woman like yourself does not deserve to be forgiven.  I believe you will be so generous, at least when you know my story, and the afflicting circumstance that forced me to act the part I have done.”

The princess Badoura having discovered her sex to the princess of the isle of Ebene, she again prayed her to keep the secret, and to pretend to be satisfied with her as a husband, till the prince’s arrival, which she hoped would be in a little time.

“Princess,” replied Haiatalnefous, “your fortune is indeed strange, that a marriage, so happy as yours, should be shortened by so unaccountable an accident, after a passion so reciprocal and full of wonders.  Pray heaven you may soon meet with your husband again, and assure yourself I will keep religiously the secret committed to me.  It will be to me the greatest pleasure in the world to be the only person in the great kingdom of the isle of Ebene who knows what and who you are, while you go on governing the people as happily as you have begun.  I only ask of you at present to be your friend.”  Then the two princesses tenderly embraced each other, and after a thousand expressions of mutual friendship lay down to rest.

The two princesses having decided on a way to make belief that the marriage had been consummated:  queen Haiatalnefous’s women were deceived themselves next morning, and it deceived Armanos, his queen, and the whole court.  From this time the princess Badoura rose in the king’s esteem and affection, governing the kingdom peaceably and prosperously.

While things passed as already mentioned in the court of the isle of Ebene, prince Kummir al Zummaun remained in the city of idolaters with the gardener, who had offered him his house for a retreat till the ship should sail to convey him away.