"
Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman
was, the magician went at night, and plunged a poniard into her
heart--killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the
same hue as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil,
the large necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went
straight to the palace of Aladdin.
As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to be,
they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged his
blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, kissed
only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease,
stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering
some words in form of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well
that everybody took him for the holy woman. He came at last to the
square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great
that the princess, who was in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows,
heard it, and asked what was the matter. One of her women told her it
was a great crowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured
of diseases by the imposition of her hands.
The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never
seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her. The
chief officer perceiving this, told her it was an easy matter to bring
the woman to her if she desired and commanded it; and the princess
expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the
pretended holy woman.
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