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[FN#403] There was in the palace a horse-groom which was a Gobbo

with a bunch to his breast and a hunch to his back; and the

Sultan sent for him and married him to the daughter of the Wazir,

lief or loath, and hath ordered a pompous marriage procession for

him and that he go in to his bride this very night. I have now

just flown hither from Cairo, where I left the Hunchback at the

door of the Hammam-bath amidst the Sultan's white slaves who were

waving lighted flambeaux about him. As for the Minister's

daughter she sitteth among her nurses and tirewomen, weeping and

wailing; for they have forbidden her father to come near her.

Never have I seen, O my sister, more hideous being than this

Hunchback [FN#404] whilst the young lady is the likest of all

folk to this young man, albeit even fairer than he,"-And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Twenty-second Night,