She did not doubt but Camaralzaman had taken it in
order to examine it, and that he would bring it back. She waited
for him impatiently till night, and could not imagine what made
him stay away so long.
When it was quite dark, and she could hear nothing of him, she
fell into a violent fit of grief: She cursed the talisman, and
him that made it; and, had she not been restrained by duty, would
have cursed her mother who gave it to her. She was the more
troubled, because she could not imagine how her talisman should
have caused the prince's separation from her. However, amidst all
her sorrow, she retained her judgment, and came to a courageous
resolution not common with persons of her sex.
She and her women only knew of the prince's being gone; for his
men were then asleep, or refreshing themselves in their tents.
The princess, fearing they would betray her if they had any
knowledge of it, first composed her mind a little, moderated her
grief, and forbade her women to say or do any thing that might
make them suspect the truth. Then she undressed herself, and put
on prince Camaralzaman's suit; being so like him in it, that the
next day, when she came abroad, his men took her for him.
She commanded them to pack up their baggage and march forward;
and when all things were ready, she ordered one of her women to
go into her sedan; she herself on horseback, riding by her side.
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