"We will seek the King, to our requests he has always leant a kind and
willing ear."
* * * * *
Meanwhile homeward through the sultry night rode a horseman with a
heavy load.
* * * * *
When the dawn broke, they who had been robbed set out together to seek
the Court of the King.
His Majesty, who was revered for his goodness, had one daughter who to a
keen intellect united great beauty, and was renowned throughout her
father's dominions and even in countries beyond the sea.
Whenever the King or his ministers were perplexed as to how to act in
any particular matter they invariably consulted the Princess, who on
each and all such occasions had guided them aright; while no chicanery
or fraud ever passed her undetected.
All that was brave, lofty, and good she admired, honoured, and followed.
All that was mean, low, and dishonest she abhorred.
United to a powerful mind were many womanly, gracious, and charitable
qualities, which made her beloved in humble circles as well as respected
in high ones.
Therefore when the four petitioners sought the King, it was with the
idea of humbly pleading for the Princess's assistance.
The King, who knew them, received them at once on their arrival and
listened to all that they had to say, agreeing with them in their
suspicions. He asked them, when he had heard their story, if they could
identify the property if they were to see it anywhere; to which they
answered, "Yes."
Then, bidding them rest and refresh themselves, he went himself to the
apartments of his daughter and told her the tale that he had heard. She
was very much interested, and gladly promised to do what she could,
telling her father that if the young man could be found and brought to
the palace she fancied that she could restore to them their lost goods.
Whereupon the King consulted the four, and a messenger was sent to
search and bring the young fellow with as little delay as possible. The
envoy of His Majesty found him whom they desired with but little
difficulty, who received the royal summons with much astonishment and
some fear. Instinctively he felt that it was with regard to the stolen
jewels that he was sent for, and he trembled not a little as he set out.
Were the theft ever to be discovered he knew full well that his
punishment would not be a light one. Almost he felt inclined to regret
that he had ever embarked on so hazardous a course, but then the memory
of the shining heaps of gold and silver and the glittering stones, and
all that they represented, came to him, and he laughed and shook off all
feelings of fear; for how, after all, he said to himself, could they
prove that it was he who was the thief?
When he arrived at the palace, therefore, he was quite light-hearted,
and walked through the lines of servants with a haughty, self-confident
air.
They ushered him through many halls and at last into a large and most
beautifully decorated apartment situated at the end of a long vista of
salons. The four walls had bas-reliefs of graceful figures of women in
coloured marble and uncut jewels. The hangings were of ivory satin,
embroidered with elephants and dragons in dead gold. From the ceiling
were suspended magnificent lamps of many finely blended colours. A large
fountain splashed softly near by; the floor was strewn with tiger
skins; the air was heavy with strong perfume; while the light from
without stole in subdued and cool through green blinds. But what riveted
the visitor's attention beyond all else was a couch of immense
dimensions stretching across the upper end of the room, reclining on
which amongst many cushions was a woman; overhead was a canopy of
fringed cloth supported by delicately chased silver poles inlaid with
turquoises. On a table of mother-of-pearl stood some cheroots and a
glass globe of water. Several attendants, gorgeously attired, lounged
near, and created a breeze with fans made of real roses.
The lady herself was very handsome, with a clear skin of an almost olive
colour, great eyes of a velvety darkness, and a soft, slow, sweet smile;
pearls clasped her throat, diamonds shone on her fingers, while gold
bracelets glittered on her slender bare ankles. She motioned her
somewhat bewildered visitor to seat himself near, and signed to the
attendants to withdraw.
He felt terribly nervous in the presence of this royal lady: she watched
him in silence for a few moments, fanning herself languidly the while;
she was uncertain as to how to open the conversation. He was very
handsome, certainly, she thought, as she looked, and with a figure as
lithe and graceful as that of a panther.
She raised herself a little and leant forward slightly; he started and
looked at her apprehensively.
"I suppose," she began, "that you are wondering why I sent for you?"
The tones of her voice were strangely liquid and clear.
The young man murmured something indistinctly in response.
She continued, "But for some time past, when the King and myself have
gone abroad, we have seen you often and have desired to know you."
The listener was trembling so with joy, relief, and surprise at hearing
such words, that he could find naught to say in reply.
Then she, perceiving his agitation, spoke to him gently and kindly for a
few minutes, in order to give him time to recover his self-possession.
Then, when he was more composed, she asked him many questions about
himself--questions which he gladly answered. Then after a while she bade
him go and to return on the morrow.
So he went from the seductive presence of the Princess with his head in
a whirl, and feeling as if he dwelt no longer on earth but in Nirvana.
On the morrow he returned, and for many days following, not a question
was ever asked. He was ushered always into the same room, where he was
greeted most graciously.
On the occasion of his fourth visit, after the Princess had conversed
with him on many subjects, she asked him somewhat suddenly if he was
betrothed or married.
And when he answered that he was not it seemed to him that she appeared
pleased. Then a long silence fell between them, which he of course did
not attempt to break.
"My friend," she said at last, and her manner was somewhat nervous and
embarrassed, "I am glad that your affections are not placed elsewhere,
because I myself, strange as it is for a woman to tell a man, desire to
wed with you. To my father's Court have come many who have sought my
hand in marriage, but in none have I seen those qualities which I admire
and esteem----" she paused.
The low, thrilling words stole on the listener's ear in sweet, subdued
cadence. Did he hear aright? He doubted it; he feared that he only
dreamt.
Then he looked at her where she sat, with her shimmering jewels glancing
a thousand hues, and his heart throbbed and his brain reeled, and he was
as if drunk with wine.
He knew not how to answer this beautiful, gracious lady.
How she must love him, he thought, when she could so stoop from her high
estate. He dropped on his knees before her. "Ah," he murmured, "where
could I find fitting expressions in which to tell you what I feel? Your
words have lifted me to complete Nirvana, I shall never dwell on earth
again. Speech is but a poor thing often, therefore I will not say much.
Deeds are best; it is by them, O Princess, that you shall read my
heart."
She smiled, and her eyes were softly tender as they met his.
"There is but one thing," she said, after a few moments; "my father must
not be told till after we are married; he would not sanction our union,
though he will forgive us afterwards. Therefore you must take me hence,
away from out the kingdom for some time; then, when my father's just
anger shall have faded, as it surely will, we will return together."
The young man listened in rapt attention, scarcely crediting even yet
his own great fortune.
"And yet I scarcely see," gravely pursued the Princess, after a short
silence, "how it can be managed."
She rose as she spoke and advanced to where a box of ivory, inlaid with
opals, stood, touched a spring and opened it.
"See," she cried, "this is all the money I own," taking in her hands a
few small worthless pieces of silver; "I have never required money till
now, all that I have ever wanted has been always beside me."
"Do not fear if it is only money that you need," answered the young man;
"for of that I have more than enough."
"Ah! is that so?" she exclaimed eagerly, turning to him a face of glad
surprise.
"At home," he continued, "I have much of jewels and gold which I got but
a little while back; sufficient to keep us in that luxury which is due
to your rank, for many a year to come."
"Go and fetch it," urged the Princess, "and return here at nightfall,
and I will go with thee to another life--a life of happiness such as
this world seldom holds."
Her great eyes glittered as she spoke.
He read in her words, her looks, and her gestures only the fond
impatience of a love long, secret, and denied.
He prostrated himself, and saying, "I will return at nightfall," left
her to hurry on his errand.
* * * * *
In the early evening, when the darkness had only just fallen, he drove
in a carriage to the palace; he left it at a little distance from the
great gold entrance, and taking on his person much of his stolen
treasure, he was ushered into the Princess's room; the swinging lamps
were lit and shed a faint radiance on all around.
She was by herself, and greeted him in a manner that left nothing to be
desired.
Wishing to assure her of the existence of that money and those jewels
that he had spoken of, and feeling nervously elated, he drew from the
recesses of his turban and sash a handful of great stones, that were as
rivers of light; she gave a woman's delighted cry as she took them in
her hands.
He smiled, well pleased, and tendered a great ruby of wondrous size and
blood-red fire.
"These are but a few of what I have," he said.
"How rich you must be!" she exclaimed, "From whence did all these things
come?"
"Ah, Princess, what matter whence they came? Sufficient it is that now
they are yours."
As he spoke she, unseen by him, touched a gong of curious workmanship
that stood near.
Then she held the stones up to the light, praising their beauty and
worth, and asking many questions.
A short while passed and then a great door at the end of the room opened
and the King entered, followed by the four fakirs, and advanced to where
his daughter sat.
The young man's heart beat in alarm at the sight of those whom he had
robbed. And the Princess's first words did not tend to decrease the
feeling.
"Are these some of the treasures that you have lost?" she asked, handing
to the elder of the four the biggest of the diamonds and the rubies. He
took them in his hand, then passed them to the others, saying, at the
same time--
"These are ours."
"There stands the thief, then," said the Princess, pointing to the now
cowering shaking figure of the culprit, who looked piteously from one to
the other, feeling at the same time very enraged with himself for having
been so easily caught in the trap that had been laid for him. "It is for
you," continued the Princess, addressing herself to the four, "when your
entire treasure has been restored to you, to name his punishment."