and approached the window of his mistress to the sound of
trumpets, followed by all the Court. Every one was shouting: "Fair
Princess, come and see your handsome bridegroom who has killed his
hideous rival!" and the ladies repeated the words. The Princess
unfortunately looked out of the window, and seeing the armour of the
man she abhorred, she flew in despair to the Chinese trunk, and took
out the fatal javelin, which darted, at her wish, to pierce her dear
Rustem through a joint in his cuirass. He gave a bitter cry, and in
that cry the Princess thought that she recognized the voice of her
hapless lover.

She flew into the courtyard, her hair all disheveled, death in her
eyes and in her heart. Rustem was lying in her father's arms. She saw
him! What a moment, what a sight! Who can express the anguish, the
tenderness, the horror of that meeting? She threw herself upon him and
embraced him.

"These," she cried, "are the first and last kisses of your lover and
destroyer." Then snatching the dart from his wound, she plunged it
into her own heart, and died on the breast of the lover she adored.

Her father, horror-stricken and heartbroken, strove in vain to bring
her back to life; she was no more. He broke the fatal weapon into
fragments, and flung away the ill-starred diamonds: and while
preparations were proceeding for his daughter's funeral instead of her
wedding, he had the bleeding but still living Rustem carried into his
palace.

Rustem was laid upon a couch. The first thing he saw, one on each side
of his death-bed, were Topaz and Ebony. Surprise gave him strength.
"Cruel that you were," said he; "why did you desert me? The Princess
might still perhaps be living if you had been at hand!"

"I have never left you for a moment," said Topaz.

"I have been always at your side," said Ebony.

"What do you mean? Why do you insult me in my last moments?" replied
Rustem, in a weak voice.

"Believe me, it is true," said Topaz. "You know I never approved of
this ill-advised journey, for I foresaw its disastrous end. I was the
eagle which struggled with the vulture, and which the vulture plucked;
I was the elephant which made off with your baggage to compel you to
return home; I was the striped ass which would fain have carried you
back to your father; it was I who led your horses astray, who produced
the torrent which you could not cross, who raised the mountain which
checked your unlucky advance; I was the physician w