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At this I marvelled and, descending the steps till I reached the

last, found a fair hall, spread with various kinds of carpets and

silk stuffs, wherein was a youth sitting upon a raised couch and

leaning back on a round cushion with a fan in his hand and

nosegays and posies of sweet scented herbs and flowers before

him;[FN#266] but he was alone and not a soul near him in the

great vault. When he saw me he turned pale; but I saluted him

courteously and said, "Set thy mind at ease and calm thy fears;

no harm shall come near thee; I am a man like thyself and the son

of a King to boot; whom the decrees of Destiny have sent to bear

thee company and cheer thee in thy loneliness. But now tell me,

what is thy story and what causeth thee to dwell thus in solitude

under the ground?" When he was assured that I was of his kind and

no Jinni, he rejoiced and his fine colour returned; and, making

me draw near to him he said, "O my brother, my story is a strange

story and 'tis this.