What a shame ! she thought . SHE would not let a handsome young fellow like that be beheaded ; but how to prevent it was not quite clear at the moment . Some plan must be invented , and she wished to lock herself in where no one could interrupt her , as might easily happen in the garden . So she crept softly to her room , and took a piece of paper and wrote upon it : ` Marry the messenger who brings this letter to the princess openly at once . Ask no questions . ' And even contrived to work the seals off the original letter and to fix them to this , so that no one could tell , unless they examined it closely , that it had ever been opened . Then she slipped back , shaking with fear and excitement , to where the young officer still lay asleep , thrust the letter into the fold so his turban , and hurried back to her room . It was done ! Late in the afternoon Nur Mahomed woke , and , making sure that the precious despatch was still safe , went off to get ready for his audience with the governor . As soon as he was ushered into his presence he took the letter from his turban and placed it in the governor 's hands according to orders . When he had read it the governor was certainly a little astonished ; but he was told in the letter to ` ask no questions , ' and he knew how to obey orders . He sent for his wife and told her to get the princess ready to be married at once . ` Nonsense ! ' said his wife , ` what in the world do you mean ? ' ` These are the king 's commands , ' he answered ; ` go and do as I bid you . The letter says `` at once , '' and `` ask no questions . '' The marriage , therefore , must take place this evening . ' In vain did his wife urge every objection ; the more she argued , the more determined was her husband . ' I know how to obey orders , ' he said , ` and these are as plain as the nose on my face ! '
So the princess was summoned , and , somewhat XXXXX their surprise , she seemed to take the news very calmly ; next Nur Mahomed was informed , and he was greatly startled , but of course he could but be delighted at the great and unexpected honour which he thought the king had done him .
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