He felt as if the splendid robe had been sent him by some kind fairy , and he took care not to neglect such a precious gift . He collected all his savings , and , concealed by the darkness of the night , he passed through the gates of Alexandria . The new prince excited a good deal of curiosity where ever he went , for his splendid robe and majestic manner did not seem quite suitable to a person travelling on foot . If anyone asked questions , he only replied with an important air of mystery that he had his own reasons for not riding . However , he soon found out that walking made him ridiculous , so at last he bought a quiet , steady old horse , which he managed to get cheap . One day , as he was ambling along upon Murva -LRB- that was the horse 's name -RRB- , a horseman overtook him and asked leave to join him , so that they might both beguile the journey with pleasant talk . The newcomer was a bright , cheerful , good-looking young man , who soon plunged into conversation and asked many questions . He told Labakan that his own name was Omar , that he was a nephew of Elfi Bey , and was travelling in order to carry out a command given him by his uncle on his death bed . Labakan was not quite so open in his confidences , but hinted that he too was of noble birth and was travelling for pleasure . The two young men took a fancy to each other and rode on together . On the second day of their journey Labakan questioned Omar as to the orders he had to carry out , and to his surprise heard this tale . Elfi Bey , Pacha of Cairo , had brought up Omar from his earliest childhood , and the boy had never known his parents . On his deathbed Elfi Bey called Omar to him , and then told him that he was not his nephew , but the son of a great king , who , having been warned of coming dangers by his astrologers , had sent the young prince away and made a vow not to see him till his twenty-second birthday . Elfi Bey did not tell Omar his father 's name , but expressly desired him to be at a great pillar four days ' journey east of Alexandria on the fourth day of the coming month , on which day he would be twenty-two years old . Here he would meet some men , to whom he was to hand a dagger which Elfi Bey gave him , and to say ` Here am I for whom you seek . ' If they answered : ` Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you , ' he was to follow them , and they would take him to his father . Labakan was greatly surprised and interested by this story , but after hearing it he could not help looking on Prince Omar with envious eyes , angry that his friend should have the position he himself longed so much for . He began to make comparisons between the prince and himself , and was obliged to confess that he was a fine-looking young man with very good manners and a pleasant expression . At the same time , he felt sure that had he been in the prince 's place any royal father might have been glad to own him . These thoughts haunted him all day , and he dreamt them all night .
He woke very early , and XXXXX he saw Omar sleeping quietly , with a happy smile on his face , a wish arose in his mind to take by force or by cunning the things which an unkind fate had denied him .
At If after as for from into of that with