so that nobody met them. On this day also
his servants sought him in the garden, and could not find him; another
messenger had arrived from the city, wishing to speak to him in great
haste.

He did not return to the palace till she had flown away as a
butterfly. The messenger informed him that the Princess still
remained very unwell, and that her weakness had materially increased
when he did not arrive as he had promised. She had not said anything
about this delay; but the King was very unhappy, and requested that he
would come to the city the next day. He promised it, ordered the
messenger to return at daybreak, and went into his sleeping-apartment.
There he again reproached himself as on the previous day, and resolved
to set out on the morrow, as soon as his playmate should return the
talisman. When he met her the next day in the garden, he immediately
asked for it.

"How now, Jussuf?" said she. "What a tone! Is this the way to greet
your frolicking playmate? Is it worth while to make such a fuss about
a miserable fragment of stone?" She bowed to him, laughing, and ran
off.

Jussuf followed, and when he got near her, cried, "It concerns the
life of the Princess."

Then she stopped, and asked, "Is this the reason of your earnestness?
The Princess? The black negress? What binds you to her? Do you
consider her as a creature like yourself? And, even if it were so,
what can such a tiresome serious person be to you? Have you ever
played with her an hour so merrily as we have played the whole day?
And, believe me, my stock is not yet nearly exhausted. I have
novelties every day."

She again began a game, and, before Jussuf could recollect himself, he
had deeply entered into it; and he had soon forgotten the messenger,
his intentions, and his resolutions. He played with her till evening,
and returned to the palace when she had disappeared as usual. He had
been sought for as on the former days, but in vain. A fresh messenger
had brought still worse tidings of Haschanascha's health, and he made
the bitterest reproaches to himself for his neglect. He ordered his
horse to be saddled, and, as it was a moonlight night, he returned to
the city with the messenger. At his arrival, he saw the windows of the
apartment inhabited by his betrothed still illuminated. He immediately
went in and inquired after her health: people shrugged their
shoulders, and he hastened to go in to her. She lay, breathing
faintly, on her pillow, and