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 to 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 . Then all the castle was turned upside down ; and when the news spread in the town , THAT was turned upside down too . Everybody ran everywhere , and tried to do everything at once ; and , in the middle of it all , the old governor went about with his hair standing on end , muttering something about ` obeying orders . ' And so the marriage was celebrated , and there was a great feast in the castle , and another in the soldiers ' barracks , and illuminations all over the town and in the beautiful gardens . And all the people declared that such a wonderful sight had never been seen , and talked about it to the ends of their lives . The next day the governor despatched the princess and her bridegroom to the king , with a troop of horsemen , splendidly dressed , and he sent a mounted messenger on before them , with a letter giving the account of the marriage to the king .
When the king got the governor 's letter , he grew so red in the face that everyone thought he was going XXXXX have apoplexy .
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