side the gate of my palace. He told me in mysterious tones that a
gift from the king was waiting for me in my room, and he said that his
master begged me to excuse him for not having sooner thought of offering
me that of which I had been deprived for such a long time.

After these obscure remarks the ambassador bowed and withdrew.

When I went in I saw six little girls standing against the wall
motionless, side-by-side, like smelts on a skewer. The eldest was
perhaps ten and the youngest eight years old. For the first moment I
could not understand why this girls' school had taken up its abode in my
rooms; then, however, I divined the prince's delicate attention: he had
made me a present of a harem, and had chosen it very young from an
excess of generosity. There, the more unripe the fruit is, in the higher
estimation it is held.

For some time I remained confused and embarrassed, ashamed in the
presence of these children, who looked at me with great grave eyes which
seemed already to divine what I should want of them.

I did not know what to say to them; I felt inclined to send them back;
but one cannot return the presents of a prince; it would have been a
mortal insult. I was obliged, therefore, to keep them, and to install
this troop of children in my rooms.

They stood motionless, looking at me, waiting for my orders, trying to
read my thoughts in my eyes. Confound such a present! How dreadfully it
was in my way. At last, thinking that I must be looking rather
ridiculous, I asked the eldest her name.

"Chali," she replied.

This little creature, with her beautiful skin, which was slightly
yellow, like old ivory, was a marvel, a perfect statue, with her face
and its long and severe lines.

I then asked, in order to see what she would reply, and also, perhaps,
to embarrass her:

"What have you come here for?"

She replied, in her soft, harmonious voice:

"I have come to be altogether at my lord's disposal, and to do whatever
he wishes."

She was evidently quite resigned.

I put the same question to the youngest, who answered immediately in her
shrill voice:

"I am here to do whatever you ask me, my master."

This one was like a little mouse, and was very taking, just as they all
were, so I took her in my arms and kissed her. The others made a
movement to go away, thinking, no doubt, that I had made my choice; but
I ordered them to stay, and sitting down in the Indian fashion, I made
them all sit rou