The merchant started , and exclaimed : ` If there were not brotherly affection between us , I would cut off your head for asking me this ! ' ` If you meant to kill me , ' retorted the prince , ` you would still have first to tell me what I want to know . ' When the merchant saw that the prince was in deadly earnest , he said : ` If you wish to hear the truth of the matter you must wait upon our king . There is no other way ; no one else will tell you . I have a well-wisher at the Court , named Farrukh-fal , -LSB- 12 -RSB- and will introduce you to him . ' ` That would be excellent , ' cried the prince . A meeting was arranged between Farrukhfal and Almas , and then the amir took him to the king 's presence and introduced him as a stranger and traveller who had come from afar to sit in the shadow of King Sinaubar . Now the Simurgh had given the prince a diamond weighing thirty misqals , and he ordered this to the king , who at once recognised its value , and asked where it had been obtained . ` I , your slave , once had riches and state and power ; there are many such stones in my country . On my way here I was plundered at the Castle of Clashing Swords , and I saved this one thing only , hidden in my bathing-cloth . ' In return for the diamond , King Sinaubar showered gifts of much greater value , for he remembered that it was the last possession of the prince . He showed the utmost kindness and hospitality , and gave his wazir orders to instal the prince in the royal guest-house . He took much pleasure in his visitor 's society ; they were together every day and spent the time most pleasantly . Several times the king said : ` Ask me for something , that I may give it you . ` One day he so pressed to know what would pleasure the prince , that the latter said : ' I have only one wish , and that I will name to you in private . ' The king at once commanded every one to withdraw , and then Prince Almas said : ` The desire of my life is to know what the rose did to the cypress , and what meaning there is in the words . ' The king was astounded . ` In God 's name ! if anyone else had said that to me I should have cut off his head instantly . ' The prince heard this in silence , and presently so beguiled the king with pleasant talk that to kill him was impossible .
Time flew by , the king again and again begged the prince to ask some gift of him , and always received this same reply : ' I wish XXXXX your Majesty 's welfare , what more can I desire ?
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