But, according to her prediction, the king repulsed her, saying, “How is that you can claim to have done this thing, seeing that you are not of my people?”
“My padisha,” answered she, “let me prove the truth of what I say and the falsehood of that which all these others have said to you. Here is an ear, which I cut from the head of the monster as soon as he was dead. Let us go and look at the dragon. You will find that his right ear has been cut off.”
Accordingly they went, and, behold! it was as the girl had said.
Then the king turned to her and exclaimed, “My son! ask whatever you will and it shall be given you!”
“My padisha,” was her quiet response, “I ask that Allah may continue your life unto you.”
“Thou art most courteous, my son; but I desire that thou ask something for thyself.”
The same request was repeated. A third time [[109]]the king made his royal offer; then the supposed youth made answer: “My padisha, I would like it if you would give to me the maiden in the scarlet robes, who sits upon a divan in an upper room in your palace.”
“But already I have offered to her many youths—brave as well as handsome—and she will have none of them. Why do you ask for her? She is a cruel coquette. In the other rooms, arrayed in black, are my two other daughters. I will give you one of them.”
But the princess answered: “O, king! my fancy prefers the one in scarlet raiment. If you will give any to me, let it be this one.”
So the king had no choice. And, since he realized that to the valor of the one who made the request did he owe his life, he sent a summons; and the girl who was dressed in scarlet came into his presence and stood before him, showing deep respect.