News"Prince,"
replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter, and this is
what seems to me the best plan. You have not been out of doors since my
arrival. Ask the king's permission to go with me for two or three days'
hunting, and when he has given leave order two good horses to be held
ready for each of us. Leave all the rest to me."
Next day the prince seized a favourable opportunity for making his
request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that only one night
should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue after such a long
illness.
Heading One
Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes,
attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted a
little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns as
possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped and slept
till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without
disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him the coat he had
been wearing and to put on another which they had brought with them.
They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan led one of the grooms'
horses by the bridle.
Heading Two
By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads
met in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait
for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part of the wood he
cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, and having
rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted.
In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this,
Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their
journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's
death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief,"
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he
went on,
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"but his joy at your return will be all the greater."
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The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and
sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their
expenses they met with no needless delays.
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At
length they reached the capital of China, where they spent three
days in a suitable lodging to recover from their fatigues.
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During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the
prince.
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They then went to the baths,
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after which the prince put on the astrologer's robe and was
conducted within sight of the king's palace by Marzavan,
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who left him there and went to consult his mother, the princess's
nurse.
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Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced
close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: "I am an
astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess Badoura,
daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the conditions laid
down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, or of losing my
life if I fail."
Heading Three
It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the
terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd
soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks, and
distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him.
Continued
