The curiosity of the traveller was excited, and he approached a group, and listened. Some one was relating that the young Prince, who had been exiled from the court, had been found bleeding and dead in the park of the castle. It was thought that the murder of the Prince was the work of some thief who desired to get possession of the beautiful jewels that the young man wore.
Having his curiosity satisfied, the traveller made his way to the house of his friend, the philosopher Rustem, where he was received with open arms. According to the wishes of his friend, the traveller related all the particulars of his journey, which were even more wonderful than are related here. He told, in short, his whole history. He told Rustem of all his troubles—how he had been rescued by a Monkey, and how he was met by a terrible Lion, who was rejoiced to see him, and who had given a sumptuous feast in his honor; and who, thinking this not enough, had presented him with a magnificent cluster of diamonds.
After relating this extraordinary adventure, the traveller made bold to exhibit to Rustem the beautiful diadem, who regarded it with a greedy and knowing look, and who made many exclamations of surprise and admiration. The worthy traveller did not foresee the troubles that this unfortunate diadem was to cause him. He did not know that it had been the cause of the death of the son of the King.
Meanwhile, Rustem was thinking to himself, "I recognize these diamonds. They belonged to my young master. What a reward must be in store for the one who will inform the monarch of the murderer of his child!"
Night came, and the traveller was fast asleep. The cluster of diamonds was lying on a table. The cowardly Vizier seized it and ran to the palace. The ingrate, cowardly as he was, would not hesitate to sacrifice his benefactor, provided he could recover his lost power.
"Here is the property of the son whom you have so rigorously punished. Do you recognize these diamonds? I have in my power the assassin who had possession of this diadem."
The unfortunate King wept on seeing the familiar ornament which his favorite son had worn. He kissed it, and pressed it to his heart as if it had been his favorite child.
"Let the murderer be brought before me," he exclaimed, "and he shall be thrown into the darkest dungeon."
The unfortunate traveller, who was ignorant of the crime of which he was accused, was brought before the King with trouble and confusion imprinted on his features. He saw the perfidious Rustem in the crowd that surrounded him, and, remembering the wise counsels of the Monkey and the Serpent, suspected that he had been made the victim of this treacherous person.