"Sir," said he, "I ask your pardon for fainting in your presence; I know that it is not good manners, and I entreat you to accept my elephant in acknowledgment of all the kindness with which you have received me." He then related his adventures, taking good care not to mention the object of his journey. "But, in the name of Brahma," said he, "tell me who is this happy Barbabou who is to be married to the Princess of Cashmere, and why her father has chosen him for his son-in-law, and why the Princess has accepted him for her husband." "My lord," replied the gentleman of Cashmere, "the Princess is far from having accepted him. On the contrary, she is drowned in tears, while the province rejoices over her marriage. She is shut up in the Palace Tower, and refuses to see any of the festivities prepared in her honour." Rustem, on hearing this, felt new life in his soul, and the colour which sorrow had faded came again into his cheeks. "Then pray tell me," he continued, "why the Prince of Cashmere persists in marrying her to Barbabou against her will." "The facts are these," replied his friend. "Do you know that our august Prince lost some time ago a diamond and a javelin, on which his heart was greatly set?" "I know it well," said Rustem. "Then, I must tell you," said his host, "that the Prince, in despair at hearing nothing of his two treasures, after searching for them all the world over, promised his daughter in marriage to anyone who would bring him either of them. Then Barbabou arrived and brought the diamond with him; and he is to marry the Princess to-morrow." Rustem turned pale. He muttered his thanks, took leave of his host, and went off on his dromedary to the capital where the ceremony was to take place. He reached the palace of the sovereign, announced that he had matters of importance to communicate to him, and craved an audience. He was told that the Prince was engaged in preparing for the wedding. "That is the very reason," said he, "why I wish to speak to him." In short, he was so urgent that he was admitted. "My lord," said he, "may Heaven crown your days with glory and magnificence! Your son-in-law is a rascal." "A rascal! How dare you say so? Is that the way to speak to a Prince of Cashmere of the son-in-law he has chosen?" "Yes, a rascal," said Rustem. "And to prove it to your Highness, here is your diamond, which I have brought back to you." The Prince, in much amazement, compared the two diamonds, and, as he knew nothing about gems, he could not tell which was the true one. "Here are two diamonds," said he, "but I have only one daughter. I am in a strange dilemma!" Then he sent for Barbabou, and asked him whether he had not deceived him. Barbabou swore that he had bought the diamond of an Armenian. Rustem did not say from whom he had got his, but he proposed, as a solution, that his Highness should allow him and his rival to fight in single combat on the spot.