three. One--two--three." As she said the
last number she disappeared.

Jussuf now saw the variegated butterfly flutter over the lake, and
lose itself among the flowers of the garden; the boat moved back
towards the bank where it had before been placed. The abandoned Jussuf
stood for some time, as if in a dream; but when the evening twilight
veiled the distant hills, he awoke to consciousness. Then the
occurrences of the day appeared like a wonderful vision to his soul.
In the silence of his chamber he soon threw himself on his bed, and
here everything recurred to his memory; and he now wondered less at
the wonderful appearance of the maiden than at himself--that he, a
serious man, who till now had lived in the activity and cares of
business, should have amused himself for several hours with childish
games, at which he had not before played since his earliest boyish
days. Gradually his thoughts passed into dreams.

He awoke late the next morning. The sun was already high in the
heavens, and his slaves had long been waiting at the threshold of the
door which led to his room, to receive his commands. He remembered
that he wished to return early in the morning to the town, because it
was his custom regularly to keep open his warehouse on this day of the
week. It proved, therefore, very agreeable to him, when he went out,
to find his horse was standing ready saddled before the house.

After he had dressed quickly, and taken his breakfast, he mounted his
splendid Arab steed, and rode towards Balsora, followed by several
slaves. When he arrived at the bazaar to open his warehouse, a number
of customers were already assembled, and the crowd increased at every
moment, so that he could hardly satisfy all--he had not hands enough.
When all was produced that was wished for, time was wanting to give
the inquirers the needful information about the worth and quality of
the goods; and if a purchaser wished to pay for his articles, he had
no time to count over the money, but he placed it uncounted in his
money-box, trusting to the honour of his customers. This press of
business so fully occupied his attention, that he soon forgot his last
night's adventure, though at first the form of his fair playmate was
present to his soul. So many days passed away in the bustle of his
vast employment.

One day, about the end of the week, when he was busy in his warehouse,
the public crier went by, offering for sale some small foreign insects
a