The Vizier wept at the mention of King Omar"s name and said，"King Omar is dead by poison， and the folk fell out amongst themselves as to whom they should make king after him， so that they were like to come to blows on this account； but the notables and grandees interposed and restored peace， and the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision of the four Cadis， who adjudged that we should go to Damascus and fetch thence the late king"s son Sherkan and make him king over his father"s realm.
Some of them would have chosen his second son Zoulmekan， were it not that he and his sister Nuzhet ez Zeman set out five years ago for Mecca， and none knows what is become of them." When the Chamberlain heard this， he knew that his wife had told him the truth and grieved sore for the death of King Omar， what while he was greatly rejoiced， especially at the arrival of Zoulmekan， for that he would now become King of Baghdad in his father"s room. So he turned to the Vizier and said to him， "Verily， your affair is a wonder of wonders！ Know， O chief Vizier， that here， where you have encountered me， God giveth you rest from fatigue and bringeth you that you desire after the easiest of fashions， in that He restoreth to you Zoulmekan and his sister Nuzhet ez Zeman， whereby the matter is settled and made easy." When the Vizier heard this， he rejoiced greatly and said， "O Chamberlain，tell me their story and the reason of their having been so long absent." So he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhet ez Zeman was his wife. As soon as he had made an end of his tale， the Vizier sent for the amirs and viziers and grandees and acquainted them with the matter； whereat they rejoiced greatly and wondered at the happy chance. Then they went in to the Chamberlain and did their service to him， kissing the earth before him； and the Vizier Dendan also rose and stood before him，in token of respect. After this the Chamberlain held a great council， and he and the Vizier sat upon a throne， whilst all the amirs and officers of state took their places before them，according to their several ranks. Then they dissolved sugar in rose-water and drank， after which the amirs sat down to hold council and bade the rest mount and ride forward leisurely， till they should make an end of their deliberations and overtake them.
So the officers kissed the earth before them and mounting， rode onward， preceded by the standards of war. When the amirs had finished their conference， they mounted and rejoined the troops；
and the Chamberlain said to the Vizier Dendan， "I think it well to ride on before you， that I may notify Zoulmekan of your coming and choice of him as Sultan over the head of his brother Sherkan，and that I may make him ready a place befitting his dignity." "It is well thought，" answered the Vizier. Then the Chamberlain rose and Dendan also rose， to do him honour， and brought him presents，which he conjured him to accept. On like wise did all the amirs and officers of state， calling down blessings on him and saying to him， "Mayhap thou will make mention of our case to King Zoulmekan and speak to him to continue us in our dignities." The Chamberlain promised what they asked and the Vizier Dendan sent with him tents and bade the tent-pitchers set them up at a days journey from the city. Then the Chamberlain mounted and rode forward， full of joy and saying in himself， "How blessed is this journey！" And indeed his wife was exalted in his eyes， she and her brother Zoulmekan. They made all haste， till they reached a place distant a day"s journey from Baghdad， where he called a halt and bade his men alight and make ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zoulmekan， whilst he rode forward with his pages and alighting at a distance from Nuzhet ez Zeman"s litter， commanded the eunuchs to ask the princess"s leave to admit him. They did so and she gave leave； whereupon he went in to her and her brother and told them of the death of their father， King Omar ben Ennuman， and how the heads of the people had made Zoulmekan king over them in his stead； and he gave them joy of the kingdom. When they heard this， they both wept for their father and asked the manner of his death. "The news rests with the Vizier Dendan，"
replied the Chamberlain， "who will be here to-morrow with all the troops； and it only remains for thee， O prince， to do what they counsel， since they have chosen thee King； for if thou do not this， they will crown another， and thou canst not be sure of thyself with another king. Haply he will kill thee， or discord may befall between you and the kingdom pass out of your hands."
Zoulmekan bowed his head awhile， then raised it and said， "I accept；" for indeed he saw that the Chamberlain had counselled him rightly and that there was no refusing； "but， O uncle， how shall I do with my brother Sherkan？" "O my son，" replied the Chamberlain， "thy brother will be Sultan of Damascus， and thou Sultan of Baghdad； so gird up thy resolution and prepare to do what befits thy case." Then he presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a dagger of state， that the Vizier Dendan had brought with him， and leaving him， returned to the tent-pitchers and bade them choose out a spot of rising ground and pitch thereon a spacious and splendid pavilion， wherein the Sultan might sit to receive the amirs and grandees. Then he ordered the cooks to make ready rich food and serve it up and the water-carriers to set up the water-troughs. They did as he bade them and presently there arose a cloud of dust and spread till it obscured the horizon.
After awhile， the breeze dispersed it， and there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorassan， led by the Vizier Dendan，all rejoicing in the accession of Zoulmekan. Now Zoulmekan had donned the royal robes and girt himself with the sword of state：
