<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"></SPAN></p>
<h2> The Story of the Three Sons of Hali </h2>
<p>Till his eighteenth birthday the young Neangir lived happily in a village
about forty miles from Constantinople, believing that Mohammed and Zinebi
his wife, who had brought him up, were his real parents.</p>
<p>Neangir was quite content with his lot, though he was neither rich nor
great, and unlike most young men of his age had no desire to leave his
home. He was therefore completely taken by surprise when one day Mohammed
told him with many sighs that the time had now come for him to go to
Constantinople, and fix on a profession for himself. The choice would be
left to him, but he would probably prefer either to be a soldier or one of
the doctors learned in the law, who explain the Koran to the ignorant
people. 'You know the holy book nearly by heart,' ended the old man, 'so
that in a very short time you would be fitted to teach others. But write
to us and tell us how you pass your life, and we, on our side, will
promise never to forget you.'</p>
<p>So saying, Mohammed gave Neangir four piastres to start him in the great
city, and obtained leave for him to join a caravan which was about to set
off for Constantinople.</p>
<p>The journey took some days, as caravans go very slowly, but at last the
walls and towers of the capital appeared in the distance. When the caravan
halted the travellers went their different ways, and Neangir was left,
feeling very strange and rather lonely. He had plenty of courage and made
friends very easily; still, not only was it the first time he had left the
village where he had been brought up, but no one had ever spoken to him of
Constantinople, and he did not so much as know the name of a single street
or of a creature who lived in it.</p>
<p>Wondering what he was to do next, Neangir stood still for a moment to look
about him, when suddenly a pleasant-looking man came up, and bowing
politely, asked if the youth would do him the honour of staying in his
house till he had made some plans for himself. Neangir, not seeing
anything else he could do, accepted the stranger's offer and followed him
home.</p>
<p>They entered a large room, where a girl of about twelve years old was
laying three places at the table.</p>
<p>'Zelida,' said the stranger, 'was I not quite right when I told you that I
should bring back a friend to sup with us?'</p>
<p>'My father,' replied the girl, 'you are always right in what you say, and
what is better still, you never mislead others.' As she spoke, an old
slave placed on the table a dish called pillau, made of rice and meat,
which is a great favourite among people in the East, and setting down
glasses of sherbet before each person, left the room quietly.</p>
<p>During the meal the host talked a great deal upon all sorts of subjects;
but Neangir did nothing but look at Zelida, as far as he could without
being positively rude.</p>
<p>The girl blushed and grew uncomfortable, and at last turned to her father.
'The stranger's eyes never wander from me,' she said in a low and
hesitating voice. 'If Hassan should hear of it, jealousy will make him
mad.'</p>
<p>'No, no,' replied the father, 'you are certainly not for this young man.
Did I not tell you before that I intend him for your sister Argentine. I
will at once take measures to fix his heart upon her,' and he rose and
opened a cupboard, from which he took some fruits and a jug of wine, which
he put on the table, together with a small silver and mother-of-pearl box.</p>
<p>'Taste this wine,' he said to the young man, pouring some into a glass.</p>
<p>'Give me a little, too,' cried Zelida.</p>
<p>'Certainly not,' answered her father, 'you and Hassan both had as much as
was good for you the other day.'</p>
<p>'Then drink some yourself,' replied she, 'or this young man will think we
mean to poison him.'</p>
<p>'Well, if you wish, I will do so,' said the father; 'this elixir is not
dangerous at my age, as it is at yours.'</p>
<p>When Neangir had emptied his glass, his host opened the mother-of-pearl
box and held it out to him. Neangir was beside himself with delight at the
picture of a young maiden more beautiful than anything he had ever dreamed
of. He stood speechless before it, while his breast swelled with a feeling
quite new to him.</p>
<p>His two companions watched him with amusement, until at last Neangir
roused himself. 'Explain to me, I pray you,' he said, 'the meaning of
these mysteries. Why did you ask me here? Why did you force me to drink
this dangerous liquid which has set fire to my blood? Why have you shown
me this picture which has almost deprived me of reason?'</p>
<p>'I will answer some of your questions,' replied his host, 'but all, I may
not. The picture that you hold in your hand is that of Zelida's sister. It
has filled your heart with love for her; therefore, go and seek her. When
you find her, you will find yourself.'</p>
<p>'But where shall I find her?' cried Neangir, kissing the charming
miniature on which his eyes were fixed.</p>
<p>'I am unable to tell you more,' replied his host cautiously.</p>
<p>'But I can' interrupted Zelida eagerly. 'To-morrow you must go to the
Jewish bazaar, and buy a watch from the second shop on the right hand. And
at midnight—'</p>
<p>But what was to happen at midnight Neangir did not hear, for Zelida's
father hastily laid his hand over her mouth, crying: 'Oh, be silent,
child! Would you draw down on you by imprudence the fate of your unhappy
sisters?' Hardly had he uttered the words, when a thick black vapour rose
about him, proceeding from the precious bottle, which his rapid movement
had overturned. The old slave rushed in and shrieked loudly, while
Neangir, upset by this strange adventure, left the house.</p>
<p>He passed the rest of the night on the steps of a mosque, and with the
first streaks of dawn he took his picture out of the folds of his turban.
Then, remembering Zelida's words, he inquired the way to the bazaar, and
went straight to the shop she had described.</p>
<p>In answer to Neangir's request to be shown some watches, the merchant
produced several and pointed out the one which he considered the best. The
price was three gold pieces, which Neangir readily agreed to give him; but
the man made a difficulty about handing over the watch unless he knew
where his customer lived.</p>
<p>'That is more than I know myself,' replied Neangir. 'I only arrived in the
town yesterday and cannot find the way to the house where I went first.'</p>
<p>'Well,' said the merchant, 'come with me, and I will take you to a good
Mussulman, where you will have everything you desire at a small charge.'</p>
<p>Neangir consented, and the two walked together through several streets
till they reached the house recommended by the Jewish merchant. By his
advice the young man paid in advance the last gold piece that remained to
him for his food and lodging.</p>
<p>As soon as Neangir had dined he shut himself up in his room, and thrusting
his hand into the folds of his turban, drew out his beloved portrait. As
he did so, he touched a sealed letter which had apparently been hidden
there without his knowledge, and seeing it was written by his
foster-mother, Zinebi, he tore it eagerly open. Judge of his surprise when
he read these words:</p>
<p>'My dearest Child,—This letter, which you will some day find in your
turban, is to inform you that you are not really our son. We believe your
father to have been a great lord in some distant land, and inside this
packet is a letter from him, threatening to be avenged on us if you are
not restored to him at once. We shall always love you, but do not seek us
or even write to us. It will be useless.'</p>
<p>In the same wrapper was a roll of paper with a few words as follows,
traced in a hand unknown to Neangir:</p>
<p>'Traitors, you are no doubt in league with those magicians who have stolen
the two daughters of the unfortunate Siroco, and have taken from them the
talisman given them by their father. You have kept my son from me, but I
have found out your hiding-place and swear by the Holy Prophet to punish
your crime. The stroke of my scimitar is swifter than the lightning.'</p>
<p>The unhappy Neangir on reading these two letters—of which he
understood absolutely nothing—felt sadder and more lonely than ever.
It soon dawned on him that he must be the son of the man who had written
to Mohammed and his wife, but he did not know where to look for him, and
indeed thought much more about the people who had brought him up and whom
he was never to see again.</p>
<p>To shake off these gloomy feelings, so as to be able to make some plans
for the future, Neangir left the house and walked briskly about the city
till darkness had fallen. He then retraced his steps and was just crossing
the threshold when he saw something at his feet sparkling in the
moonlight. He picked it up, and discovered it to be a gold watch shining
with precious stones. He gazed up and down the street to see if there was
anyone about to whom it might belong, but there was not a creature
visible. So he put it in his sash, by the side of a silver watch which he
had bought from the Jew that morning.</p>
<p>The possession of this piece of good fortune cheered Neangir up a little,
'for,' thought he, 'I can sell these jewels for at least a thousand
sequins, and that will certainly last me till I have found my father.' And
consoled by this reflection he laid both watches beside him and prepared
to sleep.</p>
<p>In the middle of the night he awoke suddenly and heard a soft voice
speaking, which seemed to come from one of the watches.</p>
<p>'Aurora, my sister,' it whispered gently. 'Did they remember to wind you
up at midnight?'</p>
<p>'No, dear Argentine,' was the reply. 'And you?'</p>
<p>'They forgot me, too,' answered the first voice, 'and it is now one
o'clock, so that we shall not be able to leave our prison till to-morrow—if
we are not forgotten again—then.'</p>
<p>'We have nothing now to do here,' said Aurora. 'We must resign ourselves
to our fate—let us go.'</p>
<p>Filled with astonishment Neangir sat up in bed, and beheld by the light of
the moon the two watches slide to the ground and roll out of the room past
the cats' quarters. He rushed towards the door and on to the staircase,
but the watches slipped downstairs without his seeing them, and into the
street. He tried to unlock the door and follow them, but the key refused
to turn, so he gave up the chase and went back to bed.</p>
<p>The next day all his sorrows returned with tenfold force. He felt himself
lonelier and poorer than ever, and in a fit of despair he thrust his
turban on his head, stuck his sword in his belt, and left the house
determined to seek an explanation from the merchant who had sold him the
silver watch.</p>
<p>When Neangir reached the bazaar he found the man he sought was absent from
his shop, and his place filled by another Jew.</p>
<p>'It is my brother you want,' said he; 'we keep the shop in turn, and in
turn go into the city to do our business.'</p>
<p>'Ah! what business?' cried Neangir in a fury. 'You are the brother of a
scoundrel who sold me yesterday a watch that ran away in the night. But I
will find it somehow, or else you shall pay for it, as you are his
brother!'</p>
<p>'What is that you say?' asked the Jew, around whom a crowd had rapidly
gathered. 'A watch that ran away. If it had been a cask of wine, your
story might be true, but a watch—! That is hardly possible!'</p>
<p>'The Cadi shall say whether it is possible or not,' replied Neangir, who
at that moment perceived the other Jew enter the bazaar. Darting up, he
seized him by the arm and dragged him to the Cadi's house; but not before
the man whom he had found in the shop contrived to whisper to his brother,
in a tone loud enough for Neangir to hear, 'Confess nothing, or we shall
both be lost.'</p>
<p>When the Cadi was informed of what had taken place he ordered the crowd to
be dispersed by blows, after the Turkish manner, and then asked Neangir to
state his complaint. After hearing the young man's story, which seemed to
him most extraordinary, he turned to question the Jewish merchant, who
instead of answering raised his eyes to heaven and fell down in a dead
faint.</p>
<p>The judge took no notice of the swooning man, but told Neangir that his
tale was so singular he really could not believe it, and that he should
have the merchant carried back to his own house. This so enraged Neangir
that he forgot the respect due to the Cadi, and exclaimed at the top of
his voice, 'Recover this fellow from his fainting fit, and force him to
confess the truth,' giving the Jew as he spoke a blow with his sword which
caused him to utter a piercing scream.</p>
<p>'You see for yourself,' said the Jew to the Cadi, 'that this young man is
out of his mind. I forgive him his blow, but do not, I pray you, leave me
in his power.'</p>
<p>At that moment the Bassa chanced to pass the Cadi's house, and hearing a
great noise, entered to inquire the cause. When the matter was explained
he looked attentively at Neangir, and asked him gently how all these
marvels could possibly have happened.</p>
<p>'My lord,' replied Neangir, 'I swear I have spoken the truth, and perhaps
you will believe me when I tell you that I myself have been the victim of
spells wrought by people of this kind, who should be rooted out from the
earth. For three years I was changed into a three-legged pot, and only
returned to man's shape when one day a turban was laid upon my lid.'</p>
<p>At these words the Bassa rent his robe for joy, and embracing Neangir, he
cried, 'Oh, my son, my son, have I found you at last? Do you not come from
the house of Mohammed and Zinebi?'</p>
<p>'Yes, my lord,' replied Neangir, 'it was they who took care of me during
my misfortune, and taught me by their example to be less worthy of
belonging to you.'</p>
<p>'Blessed be the Prophet,' said the Bassa, 'who has restored one of my sons
to me, at the time I least expected it! You know,' he continued,
addressing the Cadi, 'that during the first years of my marriage I had
three sons by the beautiful Zambac. When he was three years old a holy
dervish gave the eldest a string of the finest coral, saying "Keep this
treasure carefully, and be faithful to the Prophet, and you will be
happy." To the second, who now stands before you, he presented a copper
plate on which the name of Mahomet was engraved in seven languages,
telling him never to part from his turban, which was the sign of a true
believer, and he would taste the greatest of all joys; while on the right
arm of the third the dervish clasped a bracelet with the prayer that his
right hand should be pure and the left spotless, so that he might never
know sorrow.</p>
<p>'My eldest son neglected the counsel of the dervish and terrible troubles
fell on him, as also on the youngest. To preserve the second from similar
misfortunes I brought him up in a lonely place, under the care of a
faithful servant named Gouloucou, while I was fighting the enemies of our
Holy Faith. On my return from the wars I hastened to embrace my son, but
both he and Gouloucou had vanished, and it is only a few months since that
I learned that the boy was living with a man called Mohammed, whom I
suspected of having stolen him. Tell me, my son, how it came about that
you fell into his hands.'</p>
<p>'My lord,' replied Neangir, 'I can remember little of the early years of
my life, save that I dwelt in a castle by the seashore with an old
servant. I must have been about twelve years old when one day as we were
out walking we met a man whose face was like that of this Jew, coming
dancing towards us. Suddenly I felt myself growing faint. I tried to raise
my hands to my head, but they had become stiff and hard. In a word, I had
been changed into a copper pot, and my arms formed the handle. What
happened to my companion I know not, but I was conscious that someone had
picked me up, and was carrying me quickly away.</p>
<p>'After some days, or so it seemed to me, I was placed on the ground near a
thick hedge, and when I heard my captor snoring beside me I resolved to
make my escape. So I pushed my way among the thorns as well as I could,
and walked on steadily for about an hour.</p>
<p>'You cannot imagine, my lord, how awkward it is to walk with three legs,
especially when your knees are as stiff as mine were. At length after much
difficulty I reached a market-garden, and hid myself deep down among the
cabbages, where I passed a quiet night.</p>
<p>'The next morning, at sunrise, I felt some one stooping over me and
examining me closely. "What have you got there, Zinebi?" said the voice of
a man a little way off.</p>
<p>'"The most beautiful pot in the whole world," answered the woman beside
me, "and who would have dreamed of finding it among my cabbages!"</p>
<p>'Mohammed lifted me from the ground and looked at me with admiration. That
pleased me, for everyone likes to be admired, even if he is only a pot!
And I was taken into the house and filled with water, and put on the fire
to boil.</p>
<p>'For three years I led a quiet and useful life, being scrubbed bright
every day by Zinebi, then a young and beautiful woman.</p>
<p>'One morning Zinebi set me on the fire, with a fine fillet of beef inside
me to cook for dinner. Being afraid that some of the steam would escape
through the lid, and that the taste of her stew would be spoilt, she
looked about for something to put over the cover, but could see nothing
handy but her husband's turban. She tied it firmly round the lid, and then
left the room. For the first time during three years I began to feel the
fire burning the soles of my feet, and moved away a little—doing
this with a great deal more ease than I had felt when making my escape to
Mohammed's garden. I was somehow aware, too, that I was growing taller; in
fact in a few minutes I was a man again.</p>
<p>'After the third hour of prayer Mohammed and Zinebi both returned, and you
can guess their surprise at finding a young man in the kitchen instead of
a copper pot! I told them my story, which at first they refused to
believe, but in the end I succeeded in persuading them that I was speaking
the truth. For two years more I lived with them, and was treated like
their own son, till the day when they sent me to this city to seek my
fortune. And now, my lords, here are the two letters which I found in my
turban. Perhaps they may be another proof in favour of my story.'</p>
<p>Whilst Neangir was speaking, the blood from the Jew's wound had gradually
ceased to flow; and at this moment there appeared in the doorway a lovely
Jewess, about twenty-two years old, her hair and her dress all disordered,
as if she had been flying from some great danger. In one hand she held two
crutches of white wood, and was followed by two men. The first man Neangir
knew to be the brother of the Jew he had struck with his sword, while in
the second the young man thought he recognised the person who was standing
by when he was changed into a pot. Both of these men had a wide linen band
round their thighs and held stout sticks.</p>
<p>The Jewess approached the wounded man and laid the two crutches near him;
then, fixing her eyes on him, she burst into tears.</p>
<p>'Unhappy Izouf,' she murmured, 'why do you suffer yourself to be led into
such dangerous adventures? Look at the consequences, not only to yourself,
but to your two brothers,' turning as she spoke to the men who had come in
with her, and who had sunk down on the mat at the feet of the Jew.</p>
<p>The Bassa and his companions were struck both with the beauty of the
Jewess and also with her words, and begged her to give them an
explanation.</p>
<p>'My lords,' she said, 'my name is Sumi, and I am the daughter of Moizes,
one of our most famous rabbis. I am the victim of my love for Izaf,'
pointing to the man who had entered last, 'and in spite of his
ingratitude, I cannot tear him from my heart. Cruel enemy of my life,' she
continued turning to Izaf, 'tell these gentlemen your story and that of
your brothers, and try to gain your pardon by repentance.'</p>
<p>'We all three were born at the same time,' said the Jew, obeying the
command of Sumi at a sign from the Cadi, 'and are the sons of the famous
Nathan Ben-Sadi, who gave us the names of Izif, Izouf, and Izaf. From our
earliest years we were taught the secrets of magic, and as we were all
born under the same stars we shared the same happiness and the same
troubles.</p>
<p>'Our mother died before I can remember, and when we were fifteen our
father was seized with a dangerous illness which no spells could cure.
Feeling death draw near, he called us to his bedside and took leave of us
in these words:</p>
<p>'"My sons, I have no riches to bequeath to you; my only wealth was those
secrets of magic which you know. Some stones you already have, engraved
with mystic signs, and long ago I taught you how to make others. But you
still lack the most precious of all talismans—the three rings
belonging to the daughters of Siroco. Try to get possession of them, but
take heed on beholding these young girls that you do not fall under the
power of their beauty. Their religion is different from yours, and
further, they are the betrothed brides of the sons of the Bassa of the
Sea. And to preserve you from a love which can bring you nothing but
sorrow, I counsel you in time of peril to seek out the daughter of Moizes
the Rabbi, who cherishes a hidden passion for Izaf, and possesses the Book
of Spells, which her father himself wrote with the sacred ink that was
used for the Talmud." So saying, our father fell back on his cushions and
died, leaving us burning with desire for the three rings of the daughters
of Siroco.</p>
<p>'No sooner were our sad duties finished than we began to make inquiries
where these young ladies were to be found, and we learned after much
trouble that Siroco, their father, had fought in many wars, and that his
daughters, whose beauty was famous throughout all the land, were named
Aurora, Argentine, and Zelida.'</p>
<p>At the second of these names, both the Bassa and his son gave a start of
surprise, but they said nothing and Izaf went on with his story.</p>
<p>'The first thing to be done was to put on a disguise, and it was in the
dress of foreign merchants that we at length approached the young ladies,
taking care to carry with us a collection of fine stones which we had
hired for the occasion. But alas! it was to no purpose that Nathan
Ben-Sadi had warned us to close our hearts against their charms! The
peerless Aurora was clothed in a garment of golden hue, studded all over
with flashing jewels; the fair-haired Argentine wore a dress of silver,
and the young Zelida, loveliest of them all, the costume of a Persian
lady.</p>
<p>'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.</p>
<p>'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.</p>
<p>'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.</p>
<p>'"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."</p>
<p>'As she spoke she held out the sacred book written by Moizes, and pointed
to the following lines:</p>
<p>'"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."</p>
<p>'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.</p>
<p>'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.</p>
<p>'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 travel separately, so that we might not be so
easily recognised by the spies of Siroco.</p>
<p>'A few days later I found myself at the door of an old castle near the
sea, before which a tall slave was pacing to and fro. The gift of one or
two worthless jewels loosened his tongue, and he informed me that he was
in the service of the son of the Bassa of the Sea, at that time making war
in distant countries. The youth, he told me, had been destined from his
boyhood to marry the daughter of Siroco, whose sisters were to be the
brides of his brothers, and went on to speak of the talisman that his
charge possessed. But I could think of nothing but the beautiful Zelida,
and my passion, which I thought I had conquered, awoke in full force.</p>
<p>'In order to remove this dangerous rival from my path, I resolved to
kidnap him, and to this end I began to act a madman, and to sing and dance
loudly, crying to the slave to fetch the boy and let him see my tricks. He
consented, and both were so diverted with my antics that they laughed till
the tears ran down their cheeks, and even tried to imitate me. Then I
declared I felt thirsty and begged the slave to fetch me some water, and
while he was absent I advised the youth to take off his turban, so as to
cool his head. He complied gladly, and in the twinkling of an eye was
changed into a pot. A cry from the slave warned me that I had no time to
lose if I would save my life, so I snatched up the pot and fled with it
like the wind.</p>
<p>'You have heard, my lords, what became of the pot, so I will only say now
that when I awoke it had disappeared; but I was partly consoled for its
loss by finding my two brothers fast asleep not far from me. "How did you
get here?" I inquired, "and what has happened to you since we parted?"</p>
<p>'"Alas!" replied Izouf, "we were passing a wayside inn from which came
sounds of songs and laughter, and fools that we were—we entered and
sat down. Circassian girls of great beauty were dancing for the amusement
of several men, who not only received us politely, but placed us near the
two loveliest maidens. Our happiness was complete, and time flew unknown
to us, when one of the Circassians leaned forward and said to her sister,
'Their brother danced, and they must dance too.' What they meant by these
words I know not, but perhaps you can tell us?"</p>
<p>'"I understand quite well," I replied. "They were thinking of the day that
I stole the son of the Bassa, and had danced before him."</p>
<p>'"Perhaps you are right," continued Izouf, "for the two ladies took our
hands and danced with us till we were quite exhausted, and when at last we
sat down a second time to table we drank more wine than was good for us.
Indeed, our heads grew so confused, that when the men jumped up and
threatened to kill us, we could make no resistance and suffered ourselves
to be robbed of everything we had about us, including the most precious
possession of all, the two talismans of the daughters of Siroco."</p>
<p>'Not knowing what else to do, we all three returned to Constantinople to
ask the advice of Sumi, and found that she was already aware of our
misfortunes, having read about them in the book of Moizes. The
kind-hearted creature wept bitterly at our story, but, being poor herself,
could give us little help. At last I proposed that every morning we should
sell the silver watch into which Argentine was changed, as it would return
to Sumi every evening unless it was wound up with the silver key—which
was not at all likely. Sumi consented, but only on the condition that we
would never sell the watch without ascertaining the house where it was to
be found, so that she might also take Aurora thither, and thus Argentine
would not be alone if by any chance she was wound up at the mystic hour.
For some weeks now we have lived by this means, and the two daughters of
Siroco have never failed to return to Sumi each night. Yesterday Izouf
sold the silver watch to this young man, and in the evening placed the
gold watch on the steps by order of Sumi, just before his customer entered
the house; from which both watches came back early this morning.'</p>
<p>'If I had only known!' cried Neangir. 'If I had had more presence of mind,
I should have seen the lovely Argentine, and if her portrait is so fair,
what must the original be!'</p>
<p>'It was not your fault,' replied the Cadi, 'you are no magician; and who
could guess that the watch must be wound at such an hour? But I shall give
orders that the merchant is to hand it over to you, and this evening you
will certainly not forget.'</p>
<p>'It is impossible to let you have it to-day,' answered Izouf, 'for it is
already sold.'</p>
<p>'If that is so,' said the Cadi, 'you must return the three gold pieces
which the young man paid.'</p>
<p>The Jew, delighted to get off so easily, put his hand in his pocket, when
Neangir stopped him.</p>
<p>'No, no,' he exclaimed, 'it is not money I want, but the adorable
Argentine; without her everything is valueless.'</p>
<p>'My dear Cadi,' said the Bassa, 'he is right. The treasure that my son has
lost is absolutely priceless.'</p>
<p>'My lord,' replied the Cadi, 'your wisdom is greater than mine. Give
judgment I pray you in the matter.'</p>
<p>So the Bassa desired them all to accompany him to his house, and commanded
his slaves not to lose sight of the three Jewish brothers.</p>
<p>When they arrived at the door of his dwelling, he noticed two women
sitting on a bench close by, thickly veiled and beautifully dressed. Their
wide satin trousers were embroidered in silver, and their muslin robes
were of the finest texture. In the hand of one was a bag of pink silk tied
with green ribbons, containing something that seemed to move.</p>
<p>At the approach of the Bassa both ladies rose, and came towards him. Then
the one who held the bag addressed him saying, 'Noble lord, buy, I pray
you, this bag, without asking to see what it contains.'</p>
<p>'How much do you want for it?' asked the Bassa.</p>
<p>'Three hundred sequins,' replied the unknown.</p>
<p>At these words the Bassa laughed contemptuously, and passed on without
speaking.</p>
<p>'You will not repent of your bargain,' went on the woman. 'Perhaps if we
come back to-morrow you will be glad to give us the four hundred sequins
we shall then ask. And the next day the price will be five hundred.'</p>
<p>'Come away,' said her companion, taking hold of her sleeve. 'Do not let us
stay here any longer. It may cry, and then our secret will be discovered.'
And so saying, the two young women disappeared.</p>
<p>The Jews were left in the front hall under the care of the slaves, and
Neangir and Sumi followed the Bassa inside the house, which was
magnificently furnished. At one end of a large, brilliantly-lighted room a
lady of about thirty-five years old reclined on a couch, still beautiful
in spite of the sad expression of her face.</p>
<p>'Incomparable Zambac,' said the Bassa, going up to her, 'give me your
thanks, for here is the lost son for whom you have shed so many tears,'
but before his mother could clasp him in her arms Neangir had flung
himself at her feet.</p>
<p>'Let the whole house rejoice with me,' continued the Bassa, 'and let my
two sons Ibrahim and Hassan be told, that they may embrace their brother.'</p>
<p>'Alas! my lord!' said Zambac, 'do you forget that this is the hour when
Hassan weeps on his hand, and Ibrahim gathers up his coral beads?'</p>
<p>'Let the command of the Prophet be obeyed,' replied the Bassa; 'then we
will wait till the evening.'</p>
<p>'Forgive me, noble lord,' interrupted Sumi, 'but what is this mystery?
With the help of the Book of Spells perhaps I may be of some use in the
matter.'</p>
<p>'Sumi,' answered the Bassa, 'I owe you already the happiness of my life;
come with me then, and the sight of my unhappy sons will tell you of our
trouble better than any words of mine.'</p>
<p>The Bassa rose from his divan and drew aside the hangings leading to a
large hall, closely followed by Neangir and Sumi. There they saw two young
men, one about seventeen, and the other nineteen years of age. The younger
was seated before a table, his forehead resting on his right hand, which
he was watering with his tears. He raised his head for a moment when his
father entered, and Neangir and Sumi both saw that this hand was of ebony.</p>
<p>The other young man was occupied busily in collecting coral beads which
were scattered all over the floor of the room, and as he picked them up he
placed them on the same table where his brother was sitting. He had
already gathered together ninety-eight beads, and thought they were all
there, when they suddenly rolled off the table and he had to begin his
work over again.</p>
<p>'Do you see,' whispered the Bassa, 'for three hours daily one collects
these coral beads, and for the same space of time the other laments over
his hand which has become black, and I am wholly ignorant what is the
cause of either misfortune.'</p>
<p>'Do not let us stay here,' said Sumi, 'our presence must add to their
grief. But permit me to fetch the Book of Spells, which I feel sure will
tell us not only the cause of their malady but also its cure.'</p>
<p>The Bassa readily agreed to Sumi's proposal, but Neangir objected
strongly. 'If Sumi leaves us,' he said to his father, 'I shall not see my
beloved Argentine when she returns to-night with the fair Aurora. And life
is an eternity till I behold her.'</p>
<p>'Be comforted,' replied Sumi. 'I will be back before sunset; and I leave
you my adored Izaf as a pledge.'</p>
<p>Scarcely had the Jewess left Neangir, when the old female slave entered
the hall where the three Jews still remained carefully guarded, followed
by a man whose splendid dress prevented Neangir from recognising at first
as the person in whose house he had dined two days before. But the woman
he knew at once to be the nurse of Zelida.</p>
<p>He started eagerly forward, but before he had time to speak the slave
turned to the soldier she was conducting. 'My lord,' she said, 'those are
the men; I have tracked them from the house of the Cadi to this palace.
They are the same; I am not mistaken, strike and avenge yourself.'</p>
<p>As he listened the face of the stranger grew scarlet with anger. He drew
his sword and in another moment would have rushed on the Jews, when
Neangir and the slaves of the Bassa seized hold of him.</p>
<p>'What are you doing?' cried Neangir. 'How dare you attack those whom the
Bassa has taken under his protection?'</p>
<p>'Ah, my son,' replied the soldier, 'the Bassa would withdraw his
protection if he knew that these wretches have robbed me of all I have
dearest in the world. He knows them as little as he knows you.'</p>
<p>'But he knows me very well,' replied Neangir, 'for he has recognised me as
his son. Come with me now into his presence.'</p>
<p>The stranger bowed and passed through the curtain held back by Neangir,
whose surprise was great at seeing his father spring forward and clasp the
soldier in his arms.</p>
<p>'What! is it you, my dear Siroco?' cried he. 'I believed you had been
slain in that awful battle when the followers of the Prophet were put to
flight. But why do your eyes kindle with the flames they shot forth on
that fearful day? Calm yourself and tell me what I can do to help you.
See, I have found my son, let that be a good omen for your happiness
also.'</p>
<p>'I did not guess,' answered Siroco, 'that the son you have so long mourned
had come back to you. Some days since the Prophet appeared to me in a
dream, floating in a circle of light, and he said to me, "Go to-morrow at
sunset to the Galata Gate, and there you will find a young man whom you
must bring home with you. He is the second son of your old friend the
Bassa of the Sea, and that you may make no mistake, put your fingers in
his turban and you will feel the plaque on which my name is engraved in
seven different languages."'</p>
<p>'I did as I was bid,' went on Siroco, 'and so charmed was I with his face
and manner that I caused him to fall in love with Argentine, whose
portrait I gave him. But at the moment when I was rejoicing in the
happiness before me, and looking forward to the pleasure of restoring you
your son, some drops of the elixir of love were spilt on the table, and
caused a thick vapour to arise, which hid everything. When it had cleared
away he was gone. This morning my old slave informed me that she had
discovered the traitors who had stolen my daughters from me, and I
hastened hither to avenge them. But I place myself in your hands, and will
follow your counsel.'</p>
<p>'Fate will favour us, I am sure,' said the Bassa, 'for this very night I
expect to secure both the silver and the gold watch. So send at once and
pray Zelida to join us.'</p>
<p>A rustling of silken stuffs drew their eyes to the door, and Ibrahim and
Hassan, whose daily penance had by this time been performed, entered to
embrace their brother. Neangir and Hassan, who had also drunk of the
elixir of love, could think of nothing but the beautiful ladies who had
captured their hearts, while the spirits of Ibrahim had been cheered by
the news that the daughter of Moizes hoped to find in the Book of Spells
some charm to deliver him from collecting the magic beads.</p>
<p>It was some hours later that Sumi returned, bringing with her the sacred
book.</p>
<p>'See,' she said, beckoning to Hassan, 'your destiny is written here.' And
Hassan stooped and read these words in Hebrew. 'His right hand has become
black as ebony from touching the fat of an impure animal, and will remain
so till the last of its race is drowned in the sea.'</p>
<p>'Alas!' sighed the unfortunate youth. 'It now comes back to my memory. One
day the slave of Zambac was making a cake. She warned me not to touch, as
the cake was mixed with lard, but I did not heed her, and in an instant my
hand became the ebony that it now is.'</p>
<p>'Holy dervish!' exclaimed the Bassa, 'how true were your words! My son has
neglected the advice you gave him on presenting him the bracelet, and he
has been severely punished. But tell me, O wise Sumi, where I can find the
last of the accursed race who has brought this doom on my son?'</p>
<p>'It is written here,' replied Sumi, turning over some leaves. 'The little
black pig is in the pink bag carried by the two Circassians.'</p>
<p>When he read this the Bassa sank on his cushions in despair.</p>
<p>'Ah,' he said, 'that is the bag that was offered me this morning for three
hundred sequins. Those must be the women who caused Izif and Izouf to
dance, and took from them the two talismans of the daughters of Siroco.
They only can break the spell that has been cast on us. Let them be found
and I will gladly give them the half of my possessions. Idiot that I was
to send them away!'</p>
<p>While the Bassa was bewailing his folly, Ibrahim in his turn had opened
the book, and blushed deeply as he read the words: 'The chaplet of beads
has been defiled by the game of "Odd and Even." Its owner has tried to
cheat by concealing one of the numbers. Let the faithless Moslem seek for
ever the missing bead.'</p>
<p>'O heaven,' cried Ibrahim, 'that unhappy day rises up before me. I had cut
the thread of the chaplet, while playing with Aurora. Holding the
ninety-nine beads in my hand she guessed "Odd," and in order that she
might lose I let one bead fall from my hand. Since then I have sought it
daily, but it never has been found.'</p>
<p>'Holy dervish!' cried the Bassa, 'how true were your words! From the time
that the sacred chaplet was no longer complete, my son has borne the
penalty. But may not the Book of Spells teach us how to deliver Ibrahim
also?'</p>
<p>'Listen,' said Sumi, 'this is what I find: "The coral bead lies in the
fifth fold of the dress of yellow brocade."' 'Ah, what good fortune!'
exclaimed the Bassa; 'we shall shortly see the beautiful Aurora, and
Ibrahim shall at once search in the fifth fold of her yellow brocade. For
it is she no doubt of whom the book speaks.'</p>
<p>As the Jewess closed the Book of Moizes, Zelida appeared, accompanied by a
whole train of slaves and her old nurse. At her entrance Hassan, beside
himself with joy, flung himself on his knees and kissed her hand.</p>
<p>'My lord,' he said to the Bassa, 'pardon me these transports. No elixir of
love was needed to inflame my heart! Let the marriage rite make us
speedily one.'</p>
<p>'My son, are you mad?' asked the Bassa. 'As long as the misfortunes of
your brothers last, shall you alone be happy? And whoever heard of a
bridegroom with a black hand? Wait yet a little longer, till the black pig
is drowned in the sea.'</p>
<p>'Yes! dear Hassan,' said Zelida, 'our happiness will be increased tenfold
when my sisters have regained their proper shapes. And here is the elixir
which I have brought with me, so that their joy may equal ours.' And she
held out the flask to the Bassa, who had it closed in his presence.</p>
<p>Zambac was filled with joy at the sight of Zelida, and embraced her with
delight. Then she led the way into the garden, and invited all her friends
to seat themselves under the thick overhanging branches of a splendid
jessamine tree. No sooner, however, were they comfortably settled, than
they were astonished to hear a man's voice, speaking angrily on the other
side of the wall.</p>
<p>'Ungrateful girls!' it said, 'is this the way you treat me? Let me hide
myself for ever! This cave is no longer dark enough or deep enough for
me.'</p>
<p>A burst of laughter was the only answer, and the voice continued, 'What
have I done to earn such contempt? Was this what you promised me when I
managed to get for you the talismans of beauty? Is this the reward I have
a right to expect when I have bestowed on you the little black pig, who is
certain to bring you good luck?'</p>
<p>At these words the curiosity of the listeners passed all bounds, and the
Bassa commanded his slaves instantly to tear down the wall. It was done,
but the man was nowhere to be seen, and there were only two girls of
extraordinary beauty, who seemed quite at their ease, and came dancing
gaily on to the terrace. With them was an old slave in whom the Bassa
recognised Gouloucou, the former guardian of Neangir.</p>
<p>Gouloucou shrank with fear when he saw the Bassa, as he expected nothing
less than death at his hands for allowing Neangir to be snatched away. But
the Bassa made him signs of forgiveness, and asked him how he had escaped
death when he had thrown himself from the cliff. Gouloucou explained that
he had been picked up by a dervish who had cured his wounds, and had then
given him as slave to the two young ladies now before the company, and in
their service he had remained ever since.</p>
<p>'But,' said the Bassa, 'where is the little black pig of which the voice
spoke just now?'</p>
<p>'My lord,' answered one of the ladies, 'when at your command the wall was
thrown down, the man whom you heard speaking was so frightened at the
noise that he caught up the pig and ran away.'</p>
<p>'Let him be pursued instantly,' cried the Bassa; but the ladies smiled.</p>
<p>'Do not be alarmed, my lord,' said one, 'he is sure to return. Only give
orders that the entrance to the cave shall be guarded, so that when he is
once in he shall not get out again.'</p>
<p>By this time night was falling and they all went back to the palace, where
coffee and fruits were served in a splendid gallery, near the women's
apartments. The Bassa then ordered the three Jews to be brought before
him, so that he might see whether these were the two damsels who had
forced them to dance at the inn, but to his great vexation it was found
that when their guards had gone to knock down the wall the Jews had
escaped.</p>
<p>At this news the Jewess Sumi turned pale, but glancing at the Book of
Spells her face brightened, and she said half aloud, 'There is no cause
for disquiet; they will capture the dervish,' while Hassan lamented loudly
that as soon as fortune appeared on one side she fled on the other!</p>
<p>On hearing this reflection one of the Bassa's pages broke into a laugh.
'This fortune comes to us dancing my lord,' said he, 'and the other leaves
us on crutches. Do not be afraid. She will not go very far.'</p>
<p>The Bassa, shocked at his impertinent interference, desired him to leave
the room and not to come back till he was sent for.</p>
<p>'My lord shall be obeyed,' said the page, 'but when I return, it shall be
in such good company that you will welcome me gladly.' So saying, he went
out.</p>
<p>When they were alone, Neangir turned to the fair strangers and implored
their help. 'My brothers and myself,' he cried, 'are filled with love for
three peerless maidens, two of whom are under a cruel spell. If their fate
happened to be in your hands, would you not do all in your power to
restore them to happiness and liberty?'</p>
<p>But the young man's appeal only stirred the two ladies to anger. 'What,'
exclaimed one, 'are the sorrows of lovers to us? Fate has deprived us of
our lovers, and if it depends on us the whole world shall suffer as much
as we do!'</p>
<p>This unexpected reply was heard with amazement by all present, and the
Bassa entreated the speaker to tell them her story. Having obtained
permission of her sister, she began:</p>
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