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 lines:

'"If at midnight the watches are wound with the key of gold and the key
of silver, they will resume their proper shapes during the first hour
of the day. They will always remain under the care of a woman, and will
come back to her wherever they may be. And the woman appointed to guard
them is the daughter of Moizes."

'My brothers were full of rage when they saw themselves outwitted, but
there was no help for it. The watches were delivered up to Sumi and
they went their way, while I remained behind curious to see what would
happen.

'As night wore on Sumi wound up both watches, and when midnight struck
Aurora and her sister made their appearance. They knew nothing of what
had occurred and supposed they had just awakened from sleep, but when
Sumi's story made them understand their terrible fate, they both sobbed
with despair and were only consoled when Sumi promised never to forsake
them. Then one o'clock sounded, and they became watches again.

'All night long I was a prey to vague fears, and I felt as if something
unseen was pushing me on--in what direction I did not know. At dawn I
rose and went out, meeting Izif in the street suffering from the same
dread as myself. We agreed that Constantinople was no place for us any
longer, and calling to Izouf to accompany us, we left the city together,
but soon determined to t