At the king’s command, two servants swam forward bearing between them another crown of mother-of-pearl, slightly smaller than the king’s, in the center of which were set some large sea rocks. They placed this crown awkwardly atop Jafar’s own turban, where it balanced somewhat precariously.
“For providing us with such exquisite entertainment,” the king continued, “you shall henceforth be named as one of my wazirs, and be entitled to sit and advise me at my diwans.”
“Your Majesty honors me more than I can say,” said Jafar, “but if you so welcome my advice, then I must tell you such an honor is hardly appropriate. I am here among you for just a short time, and then I must return to the world of the surface. I would hardly make a fitting wazir.”
“There are those who would say that the best
