The Sultan did not believe her. He considered it an idle dream.[50]
The following night exactly the same thing happened.[51] The vizir’s son was very afraid and said, “Your Majesty, I don’t want to marry anymore. Please let me go.”
The Sultan was very surprised but cancelled the wedding.
When the three months were over,[52] Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise.
The Sultan did not want to see Aladdin. So he asked the vizir’s advice. The vizir said to him, “Just demand more jewels!”
The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother and said, “Good woman, I remember my promises. But your son must first send me forty basins of jewels carried by forty slaves. Tell him that I wait for his answer.”
The mother of Aladdin went home. She thought that all was lost.[53]
“Please calm,” her son said, “I will do that for the princess – and even more!”
He called the Jinn. In a few moments[54] the eighty slaves arrived. Each was carrying two basins of wonderful jewels.
Aladdin sent them to the palace. The slaves entered the palace and stood before the Sultan.
The Sultan was very glad and said, “Good woman, tell your son that I wait for him with open arms.[55]”
She came back home joyfully. But Aladdin first called the Jinn.
“I want a beautiful dress,” he said, “a white horse, and twenty slaves. And ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.” The Jinn answered, “No problem, my Master.”
Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets. The slaves were strewing gold.
When the Sultan saw Aladdin, he came down from his throne and led him into a hall. He wanted to marry him to the princess that very day.[56]
But Aladdin refused, and said, “I must build a palace for her.”
At home he said to the Jinn, “Build me a palace of the finest marble, with jasper, agate, and other precious stones.”
The Jinn finished the palace by next day.
The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them. The air resounded with music and cheers.
At night the princess said good-bye to her father. She was charmed at the