‘Let us go,’ replied the caliph rising, ‘I am ready to follow you; and I swear by the Creator of heaven and earth, that you will not repent of having satisfied my curiosity.’

The son of Abdelaziz helped the prince to dress, then placed a bandage on his eyes; ‘It is with regret, my lord,’ he said, ‘that I treat you thus’; your air and behaviour seem to be worthy of confidence.’

‘I approve of these precautions,’ interrupted the caliph, ‘and I do not bear you ill-will because of them.’

Aboulcasem conducted him down a secret stairway into a garden of vast extent: and after several turns, they both entered the place which contained the treasure. It was a deep and spacious underground place, of which a simple stone covered the entrance. First they found a long, sloping passage, very dark, at the end of which there was a great hall which was rendered very brilliant by several carbuncles. When they had arrived in this hall, the young man removed he bandage from the eyes of the caliph, who now saw with astonishment everything that presented itself to his sight.

A basin of white marble, fifty feet in circum­ference, appeared in the middle. It was full of great gold pieces, and all round were twelve columns of the same metal, which supported as many statues of precious stones admirably well worked.

Aboulcasem conducted the prince to the edge of the basin, and said to him, ‘This basin is thirty feet deep. Look at this heap of gold pieces, it has as yet diminished only by a couple of inches. Do you think I can soon dissipate that?’

Haroun, after having looked at the basin attentively, replied: ‘There are, I admit, immense riches there; but you can exhaust them.’

‘Well,’ replied the young man, ‘when this basin is empty, I shall have recourse to what I am going to show you.’

Thus saying, he led him into another hall, still more brilliant than the first, and where there were several sofas of red brocade, adorned with an infinity of pearls and diamonds. There also in the middle was a marble basin. True, it was not as large as that in which the gold pieces were, but to compensate, it was full of rubies, topazes, emeralds, and all sorts of stones. Nothing could equal the surprise which the caliph then displayed. He could hardly believe he was awake.

This new basin seemed an enchantment to him. He had his gaze still fastened upon it, when the son of Abdelaziz called his attention to a golden throne on which were two persons who, he told him, were the first possessors of the treasure. They were a prince and princess who had on their heads crowns of diamonds. They both seemed full of life. They were lying at full length, and at their feet was an ebony table on which one read in letters of gold: ‘I have amassed during a long life all the riches which are here. I have taken towns and castles which I have pillaged. I have conquered kingdoms, and laid low all my enemies. I have been the most powerful king in the world, but all my power has yielded to that of death. Whoever sees me in the state in which I am, should open his eyes. Let him reflect that I have lived like him, and that he will die like me. Let him not fear to exhaust this treasure. He will never be able to come to the end of it. Let him make use of it to gather friends together and to lead an agreeable life, for, when he must die, all this wealth will not guarantee him against the common fate of all men.’

‘I do not any longer disapprove of your con­duct,’ said Haroun to the young man, after having read these words. ‘You are right in living as you do, and I condemn the advice which the old merchant gave you. But,’ he added, ‘I should like very much to know the name of this prince. What king can have possessed so much wealth? I am sorry this inscription does not inform me.’

The young man then showed the caliph another hall in which there were several very precious things, and among others some trees similar to that of which he had made him a present. The prince would willingly have spent the rest of the night examining all that this marvellous subterranean place contained, if the son of Abdelaziz, fearing to be perceived by his servants, had not compelled him to leave before daybreak in the same manner in which he had conducted him thither, bare-headed and blindfold, while Aboulcasem held a scimitar in his hand, ready to cut off the caliph’s head if he made the least effort to remove the bandage.

They traversed the garden and reascended the hidden staircase to the room where the emperor had slept. They still found the candles lit there. They conversed together till the break of day.

‘After what I have just seen,’ said the prince, ‘to judge by the slave you have given me, I do not doubt that you have here the most beautiful women of the east.’

‘My lord,’ replied Aboulcasem, ‘I have many beautiful slaves, but I can love none of them. Dardané, my dear Dardané, always fills my memory. It is in vain that I say to myself con­tinually that she is dead, and that I ought not to think of her any longer. I am unfortunate enough not to be able to free myself from her image. It possesses me to such an extent, that in spite of all my riches, in the midst of all my prosperity, I feel that I am not happy. Yes, I would a thou­sand times rather have only a modest fortune and possess Dardané, than live without her with all my treasures.’

The emperor admired the constancy of the son of Abdelaziz, but he exhorted him to make every effort to conquer a chimerical passion. He then renewed his thanks to him for the reception he had given him. After that, having returned to his caravanserai, he took the road to Bagdad, with all the servants, the page, the lovely slave, and all the presents which he had received from Aboulcasem.

Two days after the departure of this prince, the vizir Aboulfatah, having heard speak of the magnificent presents which Aboulcasem made every day to the strangers who went to see him, and more­over, astonished at the exactitude with which he paid him, as well as the king and the lieutenant of police, the promised sums, resolved to spare nothing in discovering where this treasure could be whence he drew such wealth. This minister was one of those wicked men to whom the greatest crimes cost nothing when they wish to satisfy themselves. He had a daughter of eighteen of ravishing beauty. She was called Balkis. She had every good quality of heart and mind. Prince Aly, nephew of the King of Bassora, loved her devotedly. He had already asked her of her father and was soon to marry her.

Aboulfatah sent for her to his cabinet, and said to her: ‘My daughter, I have need of you. I wish you to adorn yourself in your finest array and go to-night to Aboulcasem. You must do every­thing to charm this young man and induce him to discover to you the treasure which he has found.’

Balkis trembled at this speech and showed at once on her face the horror she had for the step which was exacted of her obedience.

‘My lord,’ she replied, ‘what do you propose to your daughter? Do you think of the peril to which you expose her? Consider the shame with which you are about to cover her, the stigma you are setting on your honour and the outrage you will do the Prince Aly in sending the woman whom he loves upon such an errand.’

‘I have reflected on all that,’ replied the vizir; ‘but nothing can turn me from my reso­lution, and I command you to prepare to obey me.’

The young Balkis burst into tears at these words.

‘In the name of God, my father,’ she cried, ‘do not force me yourself to dishonour you. Stifle this avaricious impulse which drives you to despoil a man of wealth which does not belong to you. Let him enjoy his riches in peace, instead of trying to snatch them from him.’

‘Silence, impertinent girl!’ said the angry vizir; ‘it ill becomes you to reflect upon my intentions: do not answer me further. I wish you to go to Aboulcasem, and I swear that if you return with­out having seen his treasure, I will plunge a dagger in your breast.’

Balkis seeing herself obliged to take such a dangerous step, retired to her apartment over­whelmed with sadness. She took rich clothes and adorned herself with jewels, without, however, making every addition possible through art to her charms; but there was no need for it. Her natural beauty was alone but too capable of inspiring love. Never maiden wished less or feared more to please than Balkis. She feared as much to appear too beautiful to the son of Abdelaziz as she was apprehensive of not being suffi­ciently so when she appeared before the Prince Aly.

When the night had arrived and Aboulfatah judged it time for his daughter to go to Aboulca­sem, he took her out very secretly and conducted her himself to the door of the young man’s house, where he left her, after having told her again that he would kill her if she did not acquit herself well in the infamous part which he made her play. She knocked at the door and asked to speak to the son of Abdelaziz. A slave immediately led her into a room where his master, lying on a large sofa, was recalling to his memory his past misfortunes; and, as often happened to him, was dreaming of his dear Dardané.