"
Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me. I will show
you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice of that
you like best."
The magician followed the princess, and of all the apartments she
showed him, made choice of that which was the worst, saying that was
too good for him, and that he only accepted it to please her.
Afterward the princess would have brought him back again into the
great hall to make him dine with her; but he, considering that he
should then be obliged to show his face, which he had always taken
care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fearing that the princess
would find out that he was not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to
excuse him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and dried
fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own apartment.
The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be as free here,
good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I will order you a
dinner, but remember, I expect you as soon as you have finished your
repast."
After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent for
by one of the attendants, he again waited upon her. "My good mother,"
said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy a woman as yourself,
who will confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I am speaking of
the palace, pray how do you like it? And before I show it all to you,
tell me first what you think of this hall.
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