THE ENCHANTED HORSE OF FIROUZ SCHAH 233 



" But it is not so great that the King of Persia 

 cannot pay it if he choose to do so. Out with it, 

 I command you." 



" Will your majesty pardon me beforehand for 

 whatever presumption I may appear to have in 

 naming the price ? " 



" I pardon you, even if you should ask the 

 half of my kingdom. But remember that I 

 do not promise to pay you what you may 

 name." 



" The price, then, O king, is the hand of your 

 daughter, fair Nourmahal," said the Hindoo. 

 " Give her to me as my wife, and you shall have 

 this incomparable horse which will make you the 

 most famous monarch in all Asia." 



The king did not know what to say. He was 

 angry at the very thought of having a Hindoo 

 for his son-in-law; and yet he had set his mind 

 on the horse, and he feared that if he refused to 

 buy it some other prince might become its posses- 

 sor. While he was pondering over the matter 

 and disputing with the Hindoo, his son, Firouz 

 Schah, came in. 



" I am ashamed of you, father," cried the 

 prince, " that you should hesitate a moment as to 

 what answer this fellow should have. Only think 

 of his impudence in asking to become a member 



