A glass of wine was placed in Hawksworth's hand, and he looked up to see Arangbar beaming with satisfaction. "Now we drink, Inglish. Come, sit closer and help me toast the bridegroom." "It was truly a royal wedding, Your Majesty." "But it's not over, Inglish." Arangbar roared with laughter. "The hardest part is yet to come. Does my son have the strength to complete the work he's offered to undertake? No one can leave until we're sure." Hawksworth had begun his third glass of wine when Princess Layla reappeared, wearing a lighter dress, though still resplendent. Behind her eunuchs carried several palanquins piled high with vessels and trays of silver. Following them were servants bearing bundles on their heads. "Those are the wares she brings to the marriage, Inglish, and her servants. I think she will make him a good wife." The royal pair moved together, Layla still veiled, and then Queen Janahara stepped down from the dais and took a large mirror handed her by a turbaned eunuch. She walked to the couple and stopped directly in front of them. As they stood facing her, she held the mirror before Allaudin and reached to lift Layla's veil, giving him his first glimpse of his bride. Hawksworth studied her with curiosity. She was plain. And she looked very frightened. "It's auspicious, Inglish, if his first sight of his bride is in a mirror. I have not seen her before either." Arangbar examined her for a moment, then turned to Nadir Sharif. "What do you think? Should I buy him another one for his bed?" "She's a goddess of beauty, Majesty. Inspiration for a poet." "Is that what you think?" Arangbar sipped pensively from his cup. "Well, perhaps it's true. We'll discover soon enough if she inspires her groom." The guests watched as Allaudin and Layla were helped into a large palanquin. In moments their procession was winding out of the palace, followed by Layla's household silver, to a great fanfare of drums and trumpets and the shouts of servants. "Peace on the Prophet!" "There is no nobility but the nobility of Mohammed!" "Allah be with Him, the noblest, the purest, the highest!" Hawksworth settled back against his bolster and realized groggily that it was already past two o'clock in the morning. When the wedding procession had disappeared from view, the jubilant servants immediately turned to preparations for the banquet. "Sometimes life can be sweet, Inglish." Arangbar leaned back against a bolster and pinched Janahara's hand. "I think he should have more wives. You know there's a saying in India: 'A man should have four wives: A Persian to have someone to talk to; a Khurasani to keep his house; a big-breasted Hindu from the South to nurse his children; and a Bengali to whip, as a warning to the other three.' So far he has only the Persian." Hawksworth noticed that Janahara did not join in the general laughter. Then Arangbar took another drink and turned to Hawksworth.