bring a large cushion." Immediately they came, and were spread there. And he told the gazelle, "Lie down there." "Ah! master, here is enough where I am lying. I am your slave. I feel it good for me to lie on the ground, much more here where there is a mat spread." And he said, "You must get up and lie just there." And it arose and went and lay down. And the Sultan ordered that milk should be brought for the gazelle, and he ordered that rice should be brought; and the milk and the rice came, and it ate, and when it had finished with the rice it drank the milk, and was left to rest a little while.
And he asked it, "Give me the news you have come with." And it said, "Master, let me give you the news I came with. I am sent to come and insult you. I am sent to come and ask ill of you. I am come to seek a quarrel with you. I am sent to come and ask kinship and family alliance with you."
The Sultan said, "Hulloo! you gazelle, you know how to speak;" and he said, "I am looking for some one to insult me. I am looking for some one to make mocking signs about me. I am looking for some one to ask kinship and family alliance between us, and I have met with good luck." And he said, "Now then, tell me your message."
And it said, "You have forgiven me. Sultan?" And he said, "A thousand times." And it said, "Well then, if you have forgiven me, open this your pledge." The Sultan stooped and took it, and put it upon his lap, and opened it himself by himself. When he saw the diamond, the Sultan was greatly astonished, it was so good and it was so brilliant. And the Sultan's soul felt, "He has done me a great benefit, so that there is none like it." And he said, "I have seen my pledge."
And it said, "Well then, I am come with this pledge, given me by my master, Sultan Darai. Now he has heard
