But I am now Queen of all the Ebony Islands and they are under my rule，nor shall I ever again meet my Kamar al
Zaman save in this place；for there is no way for him to his native land but through the Ebony Islands. Verily，I know not what to do in my present case，but I commit my care to Allah who directeth all for the best，for I am no man that I should arise and open this virgin girl.'Then quoth Queen Budur to Hayat al Nufus，'O my beloved，that I have neglected thee and abstained from thee is in my own despite.'And she told her her whole story from beginning to end and showed her person to her，saying，'I
conjure thee by Allah to keep my counsel，for I have concealed my case only that Allah may reunite me with my beloved Kamar al Zaman and then come what may.'And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Eleventh Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when the Lady Budur acquainted Hayat alNufus with her history and bade her keep it secret，the Princess heard her with extreme wonderment and was moved to pity and prayed Allah to reunite her with her beloved，saying，'Fear nothing，O my sister；but have patience till Allah bring to pass that which must come to pass：'
and she began repeating，'None but the men of worth a secret keep；
With worthy men a secret's hidden deep；
As in a room，so secrets lie with me，Whose door is sealed，lock shot and lost the key.'[320]
And when Hayat alNufus had ended her verses，she said，'O my sister，verily the breasts of the noble and brave are of secrets the grave；and I will not discover shine.'Then they toyed and embraced and kissed and slept till near the Mu'ezzin's call to dawn prayer，when Hayat alNufus arose and took a pigeonpoult，[321] and cut its throat over her smock and besmeared herself with its blood. Then she pulled off her petticoattrousers and cried aloud，whereupon her people hastened to her and raised the usual lullilooing and outcries of joy and gladness. Presently her mother came in to her and asked her how she did and busied herself about her and abode with her till evening；whilst the Lady Budur arose with the dawn，and repaired to the bath and，after washing herself pure，proceeded to the hall of audience，where she sat down on her throne and dispensed justice among the folk. Now when King Armanus heard the loud cries of joy，he asked what was the matter and was informed of the consummation of his daughter's marriage；whereat he rejoiced and his breast swelled with gladness and he made a great marriagefeast whereof the merrymaking lasted a long time. Such was their case： but as regards King Shahriman it was on this wise. After his son had fared forth to the chase accompanied by Marzawan，as before related，he tarried patiently awaiting their return at nightfall；but when his son did not appear he passed a sleepless night and the dark hours were longsome upon him；his restlessness was excessive，his excitement grew upon him and he thought the morning would never dawn. Anc when day broke he sat expecting his son and waited till noon，but he came not；whereat his heart forebode separation and was fired with fears for Kamar alZaman；and he cried，'Alas！ my son！'and he wept till his clothes were drenched with tears，and repeated with a beating heart，'Love's votaries I ceased not to oppose，