The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked
her.
"Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear
laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new
lamps, asking to exchange them for old ones? The children and mob,
crowding about him so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise
they can in derision of him."
Another female slave, hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I
know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an
old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever
owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the
princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man
is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking
anything for the exchange."
The princess, who knew not the value of the lamp and the interest that
Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry and commanded
a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out
of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the
African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said,
"Give me a new lamp for this."
The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There
could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or
silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting
it as far as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and
bade him choose which he liked best.
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