They slept that night and on the morrow Alaeddin's mother arose and went with the dish to the Sultan's Divan, but found it closed; so she asked the folk and they said to her, "The Sultan holdeth a Divan but thrice a week;" wherefore she was compelled [352] to return home. Then she proceeded to go every day, and whenas she found the Divan open, she would stand before the door, [353] till it broke up, when she would return home; and whiles she went and found the Divan closed. [354] On this wise she abode a week's space [355] and the Sultan saw her at each Divan; so, when she went on the last day [of the week] and stood, according to her wont, before the Divan, till it was ended, but could not muster courage to enter [356] or say aught, the Sultan arose and entering the harem, turned to his chief Vizier, who was with him, and said to him, "O Vizier, these six or seven days [357] past I have seen yonder old woman come hither at every Divan and I note that she still carrieth somewhat under her veil. [358] Hast thou any knowledge of her, O Vizier, and knowest thou what is her want?" "O our lord the Sultan," replied the Vizier, "verily women are little of wit; and most like this woman cometh to complain to thee of her husband or one of her folk," The Sultan was not content with the Vizier's reply, but bade him, an she came again to the Divan, bring her before him forthright; [359] whereupon the Vizier laid his hand on his head and answered, "Hearkening and obedience, O our lord the Sultan."