But Khaled went forward and came to a great court in which were stone seats by the walls. Here a number of people were waiting. So he sat down upon one of the seats and his mare laid her nose upon his shoulder as though inquiring what he would do.
'Allah knows,' Khaled said, as though answering her. So he waited patiently.
At last a man came out into the courtyard who was richly dressed, and whom all the people saluted as he passed. But he came straight towards Khaled, who rose from his seat.
'Whence come you, my friend?' he inquired after they had exchanged the salutation.
'From the Red Desert, and I desire permission to speak with the Sultan when it shall please his majesty to see me.'
'And what do you desire of his majesty? I ask that I may inform him beforehand. So you will have a better reception.'
'Tell the Sultan,' said Khaled, 'that a man is here who has neither father nor mother nor any possessions beyond a swift mare, a keen sword and a strong hand, but who is come nevertheless to ask in marriage Zehowah, the Sultan's daughter.'
The minister smiled and gazed at Khaled in silence for a moment, but when he had looked keenly at his face, he became grave.
'It may be,' he thought, 'that this is some great prince who comes thus simply as in a disguise, and it were best not to anger him.'
'I will deliver your message,' he answered aloud, 'though it is a strange one. It is customary for those who come to ask for a maiden in marriage to bring gifts—and to receive others in return,' he added.