Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore | Page 3

II
THE VILLAINY OF GARROFAT AND DOOLA. THE PRINCE
SOLVES THE RIDDLE OF THE RUG, AND FINDS A NEW TASK
AWAITING HIM
Now when the Vizier Garrofat returned he was angered to find the
princess conversing with the strangers, and remarked sourly, "Much
wisdom, my lords, may be found in the complaints of women. Azalia
has doubtless been telling you of the riddle of the Mankalah rug,
forgetting that it is unseemly in a maiden to point the way to the
possession of her charms."

To which Bright-Wits quickly replied, "Learn then, O Garrofat, that I
would fain solve the riddle of the rug, and do proclaim my willingness
to be whipped forth from the gates of your city, if seven days hence I
have not accomplished the task."
"Bright eyes stir dull wits," sneered Garrofat. "Let us pray to Allah that
your skin is as thick as your vanity is great; for my slaves have stout
arms and heavy whips. Know then that I accept your offer and warn
thee against failure. Now enter with me into the palace, where you will
find refreshment; and on the morrow I will have the rug conveyed to
the apartment which you shall occupy while you dwell with us, that
you may begin your task without delay."
During the week which followed, Bright-Wits, and Ablano the
Brahman, made numerous excursions into the city and even out into the
surrounding country. At every opportunity the prince sought the society
of Azalia; and as the holy Brahman Ablano was ever present at their
meetings, Garrofat could offer no objection, much as he frowned on
their ripening friendship.
On these occasions Azalia told her new friends of many suspicious acts
of the crafty vizier; which clearly indicated that he was plotting to
secure the hand of the princess for himself, and the entire control of the
kingdom into the bargain. "He has assumed the royal red robes," said
Azalia, "and he has issued orders that he be addressed only as rajah. He
has elevated his cunning brother Doola to be head of the Council of
Emirs with the rank of vizier; and has given him the richest province of
my father's kingdom to govern." When relating these things the
princess would give way to her grief.
But Ablano comforted her, saying, "Peace, my child. Be not
disheartened. Always must thou remember that as happiness passeth
away so passeth away anxiety and sorrow."
At last on the evening of the sixth day, Garrofat summoned the prince
to his presence and warned him to be in attendance in the great hall of
the palace on the morrow. Now when morning came, Bright-Wits was
escorted by a strong guard of slaves to the Hall of Audience from

which he was to emerge victorious as the accepted suitor for the hand
of Azalia, or with the whips of Garrofat's stout slaves singing in his
ears and stinging his shoulders.
Entering boldly, Bright-Wits found Garrofat seated upon the royal
throne, while at his right stood the eight governors of the provinces.
The prince easily distinguished Doola from Azalia's description. Like
his brother, he was beardless; while a golden crown surmounted by a
red cone shaped hat was perched above his rust coloured hair.
As Bright-Wits advanced to the throne, Garrofat cried out with derision,
"Comes the Prince of Boasters to receive his reward? My slaves are
impatient to stretch their whips across your shoulders."
"My business is neither with slaves nor whips," answered the prince
with scorn. "I come to announce that I have solved the riddle of the
rug." Then salaaming deeply, he presented to Garrofat a small roll of
parchment. "On this," he said, "you will find a plan of the rug, so that
should it by any mischance come apart again it may be readily
repaired."
Two slaves now entered bearing the rug; and when they had spread it
upon the floor, it was found to be perfectly put together.
"By Allah!" gasped Garrofat, "he must be a genie."
Doola was the first to recover from the general surprise, and stepping
quickly to his brother's side he whispered in his ear. Now the counsel
must have been pleasing; for Garrofat chuckled and thus addressed the
prince. "Let me congratulate you," he said with a grin, "but before I can
consider you as a suitor for the hand of Azalia, I must have further
proof that you are as wise as you pretend. Else, would I be false to my
duty as her guardian.
"Now just before your entrance we were considering a question of
grave importance to the welfare of the kingdom. You will observe that
there hangs on the wall beside you what appear to be four charts, but
which are really the parts of one chart. Know