The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat , and which stood above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great amethysts . The four greatest nobles in the kingdom held a canopy of crimson silk over the queen , and the Sheik of Medina fanned her with a peacock-feather fan . In this state she awaited her husband and her son . She , too , had not seen Omar since his birth , but so many dreams had shown her what he would look like that she felt she would know him among a thousand . And now the sound of trumpets and drums and of shouts and cheers outside announced the long looked for moment . The doors flew open , and between rows of low-bending courtiers and servants the king approached the throne , leading his pretended son by the hand . ` Here , ' said he , ` is he for whom you have been longing so many years . ' But the queen interrupted him , ` That is not my son ! ' she cried . ` That is not the face the Prophet has shown me in my dreams ! ' Just as the king was about to reason with her , the door was thrown violently open , and Prince Omar rushed in , followed by his keepers , whom he had managed to get away from . He flung himself down before the throne , panting out , ` Here will I die ; kill me at once , cruel father , for I can not bear this shame any longer . ' Everyone pressed round the unhappy man , and the guards were about to seize him , when the queen , who at first was dumb with surprise , sprang up from her throne . ` Hold ! ' cried she . ` This and no other is the right one ; this is the one whom my eyes have never yet seen , but whom my heart recognises . ' The guards had stepped back , but the king called to them in a furious voice to secure the madman . ` It is I who must judge , ' he said in tones of command ; ` and this matter can not be decided by women 's dreams , but by certain unmistakable signs . This one ' -LRB- pointing to Labakan -RRB- ` is my son , for it was he who brought me the token from my friend Elfi -- the dagger . ' ` He stole it from me , ' shrieked Omar ; ` he betrayed my unsuspicious confidence . '
But the king would not listen XXXXX his son 's voice , for he had always been accustomed to depend on his own judgment .
above as at from in on outside over since to