e young Zelida, loveliest of them all, the costume of a
Persian lady.

'Among other curiosities that we had brought with us, was a flask
containing an elixir which had the quality of exciting love in the
breasts of any man or woman who drank of it. This had been given me by
the fair Sumi, who had used it herself and was full of wrath because I
refused to drink it likewise, and so return her passion. I showed this
liquid to the three maidens who were engaged in examining the precious
stones, and choosing those that pleased them best; and I was in the act
of pouring some in a crystal cup, when Zelida's eyes fell on a paper
wrapped round the flask containing these words: "Beware lest you drink
this water with any other man than him who will one day be your
husband." "Ah, traitor!" she exclaimed, "what snare have you laid for
me?" and glancing where her finger pointed I recognised the writing of
Sumi.

[Illustration: ZELIDA DISCOVERS THE WRITING ON THE FLASK]

'By this time my two brothers had already got possession of the rings of
Aurora and Argentine in exchange for some merchandise which they
coveted, and no sooner had the magic circles left their hands than the
two sisters vanished completely, and in their place nothing was to be
seen but a watch of gold and one of silver. At this instant the old
slave whom we had bribed to let us enter the house, rushed into the room
announcing the return of Zelida's father. My brothers, trembling with
fright, hid the watches in their turbans, and while the slave was
attending to Zelida, who had sunk fainting to the ground, we managed to
make our escape.

'Fearing to be traced by the enraged Siroco, we did not dare to go back
to the house where we lodged, but took refuge with Sumi.

'"Unhappy wretches!" cried she, "is it thus that you have followed the
counsels of your father? This very morning I consulted my magic books,
and saw you in the act of abandoning your hearts to the fatal passion
which will one day be your ruin. No, do not think I will tamely bear
this insult! It was I who wrote the letter which stopped Zelida in the
act of drinking the elixir of love! As for you," she went on, turning to
my brothers, "you do not yet know what those two watches will cost you!
But you can learn it now, and the knowledge of the truth will only serve
to render your lives still more miserable."

'As she spoke she held out the sacred book written by Moizes, and
pointed to the following lin