The wicked vizier was alarmed at this and answered: “My prince, the woman did not care for you. She left you and ran to the mountains. All those tears for her mother were only a part of the plot to run away. How, then, can you desire her?”
But, however much the vizier said—and he added much more—it made no impression upon the intentions of his master; who commanded that preparations should be made, with all speed, and that they should enter upon the search without delay.
Accordingly they started toward the mountains. The vizier did not lead the way past the spot where the princess escaped; but went on and on, in order to save himself. Thus it was that they entered the country from which the girl had fled, at first, when her father would have had her killed.
Being very hungry, they asked a child if there were not some cook’s shop in the neighborhood.
“No, my lords!” answered the child. “There is no cook’s shop near. But a little farther on is a candy-maker, whose apprentice makes such sweets that no one is able to equal them.”
“Let us go there!” commanded the prince; and, accordingly, they went on until they reached the shop. [[198]]
When the princess saw her husband and the vizier coming, she recognized them at once; but, pulling her cap over her eyes, she hid herself from them.
The prince addressed her: “Candy-maker, I pray you, give us a few cents’ worth of sweets!”
To which the princess made answer: “My masters, if you will deign to become our guests for the night, I will make you such a batch of sweets as you have never tasted, and will tell you an amusing story besides.”
When the prince heard these kind words, from one in a strange land, he was gratified and answered: “That will do very well. We will stay.”