At the request of the prince , all the officers and notables of the land were summoned to hear his reply to the princess . All assembled , and the king and his queen Gul-rakh , and the girl and the prince were there . The prince addressed Mihr-afruz : ` What is the question you ask ? ' ` What did the rose do to the cypress ? ' she rejoined . The prince smiled , and turned and addressed the assembly . ` You who are experienced men and versed in affairs , did you ever know or hear and see anything of this matter ? ' ` No ! ' they answered , ` no one has ever known or heard or seen aught about it ; it is an empty fancy . ' ` From whom , then , did the princess hear of it ? This empty fancy it is that has done many a servant of God to death ! ' All saw the good sense of his words and showed their approval . Then he turned to the princess : ` Tell us the truth , princess ; who told you of this thing ? I know it hair by hair , and in and out ; but if I tell you what I know , who is there that can say I speak the truth ? You must produce the person who can confirm my words . ' Her heart sank , for she feared that her long-kept secret was now to be noised abroad . But she said merely : ` Explain yourself . ' ' I shall explain myself fully when you bring here the negro whom you hide beneath your throne . ' Here the king shouted in wonderment : ` Explain yourself , young man ! What negro does my daughter hide beneath her throne ? '
` That , ' said the prince , ` you will see if you order XXXXX be brought here the negro who will be found beneath the throne of the princess . '
about beneath by for if in of out that to