Among others, the senator with whom Constance abode
invited him to a great banquet which he made for him. While Alla sat
at this feast, his eyes were constantly fixed upon a beautiful boy, one
of the senator's pages, who stood near and filled their goblets with
wine. At length he said to his host,--"Pray tell me, whence came the
boy who serves you? Who is he, and do his father and mother live in
the country?"
"A mother he has," answered the senator: "so holy a woman never was
seen. But if he has a father I cannot tell you." Then he went on and
told the king of Constance, and how she was found with this bey, her
child, on the pathless sea.
Alla was overjoyed in his heart, for he knew then that this child was
his own son. Immediately they sent for Constance to come thither. As
soon as she saw her husband, she uttered a cry and fell into a deep
swoon. When she was recovered she looked reproachfully at Alla, for
she supposed it was by his order she had been so ruthlessly sent from
his kingdom.
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