You will then have an opportunity of insinuating yourself into his favour, by saying, it was out of respect to him that you paid the last honours to Fetnah, snatched away by sudden death.  You may tell him, you have caused a mausoleum to be built, and, in short, that you have paid all the last honours to his favourite, as he would have done himself had he been present.  His passion for her being extraordinary, he will certainly go to shed tears upon her grave; and perhaps,” added the old woman, ‘`he will not believe she is really dead.  He may, possibly, suspect you have turned her out of the palace through jealousy, and look upon all the mourning as an artifice to deceive him, and prevent his making inquiries after her.  It is likely he will cause the coffin to be taken up and opened, and it is certain he will be convinced of her death, as soon as he shall see the figure of a dead body buried.  He will be pleased with all you shall have done, and express his gratitude.  As for the wooden image, I will myself undertake to have it cut by a carver in the city, who shall not know the purpose for which it is designed.  As for your part, madam, order Fetnah’s woman, who yesterday gave her the lemonade, to give out, among her companions, that she has just found her mistress dead in her bed; and in order that they may only think of lamenting, without offering to go into her chamber, let her add, she has already acquainted you with the circumstance, and that you have ordered Mesrour to cause her to be buried.”

As soon as the old lady had spoken, Zobeide took a rich diamond ring out of her casket, and putting it on her finger, and embracing her in a transport of joy, said, “How infinitely am I beholden to you, my good mother!  I should never have thought of so ingenious a contrivance.  It cannot fail of success, and I begin to recover my peace.  I leave the care of the wooden figure to you, and will go myself to order the rest.”

The wooden image was got ready with as much expedition as Zobeide could have wished, and then conveyed by the old lady herself into Fetnah’s bed-chamber, where she dressed it like a dead body, and put it into a coffin.  Then Mesrour, who was himself deceived by it, caused the coffin and the representation of Fetnah to be carried away, and buried with the usual ceremonies in the place appointed by Zobeide, the favourite’s women weeping and lamenting, she who had given her the lemonade setting them an example by her cries and lamentations.

That very day Zobeide sent for the architect of the palace, and, according to orders, the mausoleum was finished in a short time.  Such potent princesses as the consort of a monarch, whose power extended from east to west, are always punctually obeyed in whatsoever they command.  She soon put on mourning with all the court; so that the news of Fetnah’s death was quickly spread over the city.