‘I left the castle again at break of day, for fear lest they should discover that I was a false prophet. I returned the following day, and I conducted myself always so cleverly that Schirina and Mahpakar did not suspect for a moment that there was any deception in the matter. It is true that the princess insensibly became so well inclined towards me that that contributed not a little to make her believe all I had said, for when one is favourably inclined towards anybody, one does not doubt their sin­cerity.

‘At the end of several days the King of Gazna, followed by his officers, came to the palace of the princess his daughter; and finding the doors well closed and his seal on the locks, he said to the vizirs who accompanied him: “All goes as well as can be. So long as the doors of this palace remain like this, I little fear the misfortune with which my daughter is threatened.” He ascended alone to the apartment of Schirina, who could not help being troubled at sight of him. He per­ceived it and wished to know the cause. His curiosity increased the anxiety of the princess, who, seeing herself obliged to satisfy it, related to him all that had passed.

‘Your majesty, sire, can imagine the surprise of the King Bahaman when he learnt that he was, without knowing it, the father-in-law of Mahomet.

‘“Ah! what absurdity,” he cried; “how credulous you are, my daughter! O Heaven! I now see that it is useless to try and avoid the misfortunes which you have in store for us. The horoscope of Schirina is fulfilled. A traitor has deceived her.”

‘Thus saying, he left the apartment of the prin­cess much agitated, and searched the palace through­out. But he searched everywhere in vain; he found no trace of the villain. His astonishment redoubled.

‘“How,” he said, “can the bold fellow have entered the castle? That is what I cannot con­ceive.”

‘Then he called his vizirs and confidants. They all assembled at his call, and seeing him much troubled, they were alarmed.

‘“What is it, sire?” said the first minister to him. “You seem anxious and agitated. What misfor­tune causes the trouble we see in your face?”

‘The king told them all he had heard, and asked them what they thought of this adventure. The grand vizir spoke first. He said that this pre­tended marriage might be genuine, although it had all the appearance of a fable; that there were in the world powerful houses who made no difficulty in attributing their origin to such events, and that for his part he thought it quite possible that the princess had been wedded to Mahomet.

‘The other vizirs, out of complaisance perhaps for him who had just spoken, were of the same opinion, but a courtier argued against it thus: “I am surprised to see sensible people give credence to a report so little worthy of belief. Can wise people believe that our great Prophet is capable of coming to earth to wed women, he who in the heavenly place is surrounded by the most beautiful houris? That shocks common sense, and if the king will believe me, instead of lending himself to a ridiculous story, he will investigate this matter. I am certain he will soon discover the rogue who, under a sacred name, has had the audacity to deceive the princess.”

‘Although Bahaman was naturally rather credu­lous, and held his first minister to be a man of sound judgment, and saw that all his vizirs believed Schirina to be really married to Mahomet, he was inclined to disbelieve it. He resolved to clear up the mystery; but, wishing to do things prudently, and to try and speak himself without witnesses to the would-be Prophet, he dismissed his vizirs and his courtiers.

‘“Retire,” he said; “I wish to stay to-night in this castle with my daughter. Go, and return to-morrow.”

‘They regained the town, and Bahaman ques­tioned his daughter anew, awaiting the night; he asked her if I had eaten with her.

‘“No, my lord,” said his daughter, “I have presented meat and drink to him in vain; he would not have any, and I have not seen him take any nourishment since he came.”

‘“Relate the adventure to me again,” he replied, “and do not conceal any particular from me.”

‘Schirina detailed it to him anew, and the king attentively weighed all the circumstances.

‘Night came, however. Bahaman seated himself on a sofa, and had candles lit, which were placed before him on a marble table. He drew his sword to make use of it if necessary, and avenge with blood the insult to his honour. He expected me every moment, and it was not without agitation that he looked to see me suddenly arrive.

‘That night, by chance, the air was all aflame. A long lightning flash passed before the king’s eyes and made him wince. He approached the window through which Schirina had told him I would enter, and, seeing the sky all aflame, he became very troubled, although he merely wit­nessed a very natural thing. He did not look upon these meteors as the result of the inflamed atmosphere, he liked better to believe that these fires announced the descent of Mahomet to earth, and that the heavens were so luminous only because its gates were opened to let the Prophet pass out.

‘In the king’s disposition of mind, I could present myself with impunity before him; so that, far from appearing furious when I appeared at the window, he was seized with respect and fear. He let fall his sword, and prostrating himself at my feet, he kissed them, and said: “O great Prophet, who am I and what have I done to deserve the honour of being your father-in-law?”

‘I judged by these words of what had passed between the king and the princess, and I knew that the good Bahaman was not more difficult to deceive than his daughter. I was delighted to discover that I had not to deal with one of those firm individuals who would have sub­jected the Prophet to an embarrassing exami­nation, and, profiting by his weakness, “O king,” I said, raising him, “you are, of all Mussulman princes, the most attached to my sect, and consequently the one who should be most agreeable to me. It was written on the fatal tablets that your daughter should be deceived by a man, which your astrologers have discovered by the light of astrology. But I have prayed the Most High to spare you this unhappiness, which from love of me he has done on condition that Schirina should become one of my wives, to which I consented in order to reward you for the good actions which you do every day.”

‘The King Bahaman was not at all in a condition to be undeceived. This feeble prince believed all that I told him, and, charmed at the alliance with the great Prophet, he threw himself a second time at my feet to testify his gratitude at my kindness. I raised him again, embraced him, and assured him of my protection. He could not find terms strong enough in which to thank me. After that, thinking it becoming to leave me with his daughter, he retired into another room.

‘I remained with Schirina for some hours, but delighted as I was to be with her I did not forget that the time was passing. I feared lest the day­light should surprise me and my coffer be perceived upon the roof, so I left towards daybreak and regained the wood.

‘The following morning the vizirs and the courtiers betook themselves to the palace of the princess. They asked the king if he had informed himself on the subject that interested him. “Yes,” he said, “I have seen the great Prophet himself and have spoken to him. He is the husband of my daughter; nothing is more certain.”

‘At this speech the vizir and the courtiers turned towards him who had opposed the possibility of this marriage and reproached him for his incredulity, but they found him still of the same opinion. He upheld it with obstinacy, say what the king would to persuade him that Mahomet had married Schirina. Bahaman became almost angry with this incredulous fellow, who became the laughing-stock of the council.

‘A new incident, which took place the same day, finally confirmed the vizirs in their opinion. As they were returning to the town with their master, a storm overtook them in the open plain. Brilliant lightning flashed in their eyes and such terrible thunder was heard that it might have been the last day of the world. It happened by chance that the horse of the incredulous courtier took fright. It reared and threw its rider to the ground, breaking his leg. This accident was looked upon as evidence of the celestial wrath. “O wretched fellow!” cried the king, on seeing the courtier fall, “behold the fruit of your obstinacy. You would not believe me, and the Prophet has punished you.”

‘The wounded man was carried home, and Bahaman had no sooner returned to his palace than he had it published at Gazna that he wished all the inhabitants to celebrate with estivities the marriage of Schirina with Mahomet. I was walk­ing that day in the town. I heard the news as well as the adventure that had befallen the courtier. It is inconceivable how credulous and superstitious those people were. Public rejoicings were held, and everywhere was heard the cry, “Long live Bahaman, the father-in-law of the Prophet!”