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queen and the Vizier and his son were exceeding assiduous in keeping up the festivities, so the Lady Bedrulbudour should rejoice and her chagrin be dispelled; nay, they left nought that day of that which exciteth unto liesse but they did it before her, so she should leave what was in her mind and be cheered. But all this had no effect on her and she was silent and thoughtful and confounded at that which had befallen her that night. True, the Vizier’s son had fared worse than she, for that he was couched in the draught-house; but he belied[1] the matter and put away that tribulation from his thought, of his fear lest he should lose his bride and his rank,[2] more by token that all the folk envied him his lot, for the much increase of honour it brought him, as also for the exceeding beauty and loveliness of the Lady Bedrulbudour.
As for Alaeddin, he went out that day and saw the rejoicings toward in the city and the palace and fell a-laughing, especially when he heard the folk speak of the honour which had betided the Vizier’s son and the greatness of his good luck, in that he was become the Sultan’s son-in-law, and the exceeding pomp used in his marriage and bridal festivities; and he said in himself, “Ye know
