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THE ENVIOUS MAN AND THE ENVIED 89
' Let your highness command her to come here, and I will see what I can do.'
The Sultan, full of hope, sent orders at once that the princess was to set out as soon as possible, accompanied by her usual staff of attendants. When she arrived, she was so thickly veiled that the dervish could not see her face, but he desired a brazier to be held over her head, and laid the seven hairs on the burning coals. The instant they were consumed, terrific cries were heard, but no one could tell from whom they proceeded. Only the dervish guessed that they were uttered by Maimoum the son of Dimdim, who felt the princess escaping him.
All this time she had seemed unconscious of what she was doing, but now she raised her hand to her veil and uncovered her face. i Where am I ?' she said in a bewildered manner; 'and how did I get here?'
The Sultan was so delighted to hear these words that he not only embraced his daughter, but kissed the hand of the dervish. Then, turning to his attendants who stood round, he said to them, ' What reward shall I give to the man who has restored me my daughter?'
They all replied with one accord that he deserved the hand of the princess.
' That is my own opinion,' said he, l and from this moment I declare him to be my son-in-law.'
Shortly after these events, the grand-vizir died, and his post was given to the dervish. But he did not hold it for long, for the Sultan fell a victim to an attack of illness, and as he had no sons, the soldiers and priests declared the dervish heir to the throne, to the great joy of all the people.
One day, when the dervish, who had now become Sultan, was making a royal progress with his court, he perceived the envious man standing in the crowd. He made a sign to one of his vizirs, and whispered in his ear, ' Fetch me that man who is standing out there, but take great care not to frighten him.' The vizir obeyed, and |
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