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great hall of the palace. Having done this, he seized the dagger and slew himself.

When the festivities in connection with the prince’s marriage began, Zerendac sent the three children, richly dressed in clothes which Abu Freywar had left with her, up the staircase, telling them to amuse themselves without respect for the guests or the furniture. Accordingly they did all the damage they could think of; but the mother of the prince was slow to punish them, because they were pretty, and reminded her of her son at their age. But at last, losing patience, she was going to strike one of them when they all shouted at once, “Ya sitt Ubdûr, shûfi keyf el kamr btadûr,” which means, “O Lady Full-Moon, look how the moon is turning round.” Every one rushed to the window, and while their backs were turned the children vanished.

On the actual wedding-day the children appeared again when their father was present, ran about, breaking china and glass, and did all the damage they could think of. The prince forbade them. They replied haughtily, “This is our house, and everything here belongs to us and to our parents.” “What do you mean by that?” inquired the prince. The children answered by leading their father down the secret staircase to Zerendac, who explained who they really were and how they came there. The prince, greatly moved, embraced her tenderly and swore to be true to her till his life’s end. The sultan’s daughter was returned, with excuses and a satisfactory present, to her