And she whispered some words to the queen , who seemed much pleased , and went off at once to see the king . Now the queen was a very wise woman , so she pretended to think she might have made a mistake , and only begged to be allowed to put a test to the two young men to prove which was the real prince . The king , who was feeling much ashamed of the rage he had been in with his dear wife , consented at once , and she said : ` No doubt others would make them ride or shoot , or something of that sort , but every one learns these things . I wish to set them a task which requires sharp wits and clever hands , and I want them to try which of them can best make a kaftan and pair of trousers . ' The king laughed . ` No , no , that will never do . Do you suppose my son would compete with that crazy tailor as to which could make the best clothes ? Oh , dear , no , that wo n't do at all . ' But the queen claimed his promise , and as he was a man of his word the king gave in at last . He went to his son and begged that he would humour his mother , who had set her heart on his making a kaftan . The worthy Labakan laughed to himself . ` If that is all she wants , ' thought he , ` her majesty will soon be pleased to own me . ' Two rooms were prepared , with pieces of material , scissors , needles and threads , and each young man was shut up in one of them . The king felt rather curious as to what sort of garment his son would make , and the queen , too , was very anxious as to the result of her experiment . On the third day they sent for the two young men and their work . Labakan came first and spread out his kaftan before the eyes of the astonished king . ` See , father , ' he said ; ` see , my honoured mother , if this is not a masterpiece of work . I 'll bet the court tailor himself can not do better . The queen smiled and turned to Omar : ` And what have you done , my son ? ' Impatiently he threw the stuff and scissors down on the floor . '
I have been taught how to manage a horse , to draw a sword , and to throw a lance some sixty paces , but I never learnt to sew , and such a thing would have been thought beneath the notice XXXXX the pupil of Elfi Bey , the ruler of Cairo . '
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