of it with the greatest readiness, and brings it wherever it is
commanded."

"I am fully satisfied," replied Nourgehan, "as to the two talismans,
and never Prince was possessor of such treasures. I may now truly
style myself the sovereign of the sea. What do I owe to thee, the
ruler of my soul! But of what use is this one which the beauteous
Damake has presented to me?"

"My lord," replied she, "when I tell you for what reason it was
composed, you will know its virtue."

"We read in the revolutions of Hindostan, that Antinmour would have
unjustly exacted a tribute from Keiramour, who was too weak to resist
the forces of his enemy; and not knowing to whom to have recourse, he
resolved to address himself to the sage Seidel-Beckir, and sent his
Vizier to him with magnificent presents. The sage refused them; but he
was so touched by the situation to which the King, his friend, had
been reduced, that he declared Antinmour should not succeed in his
designs. Immediately he composed this very poniard, which I have now
presented to my Sovereign, and gave it to the Vizier. 'Tell your
master from me,' said he, 'to choose out twenty of the bravest
soldiers of his kingdom, and deliver the poniard into the hands of him
who commands them; for this poniard has the virtue (when it is drawn)
to render invisible not only the person who bears it, but all those
whom he designs should participate in the virtue of the talisman. His
will alone decides the effect of it. Keiramour shall send these twenty
persons to Antinmour with a letter, in which he shall refuse to pay
the tribute that is demanded of him. Antinmour, in the excess of his
anger, will order the ambassadors to be seized. Then the law of
nations being violated, he who bears the poniard shall render himself
invisible by drawing it with one hand, and his sabre with the other;
and his troop following his example, and doing the same, he shall
obey, without hesitation, the dictates of his courage.'

"The Vizier returned to Keiramour, and all that Seidel-Beckir had
commanded was executed. The son of the King was charged with the
command and execution of this great enterprise. Antinmour was enraged
on reading the letter that was presented to him.

"'Let this insolent ambassador be seized,' cried he, 'this moment.'

"Then the Prince, hastily drawing out his poniard and sabre, struck
off the head of Antinmour. His train did the same to all those who
composed the divan; and running di