fore your eyes of this
magnificent talisman will convince you of their virtues better than
the golden fish, which it would be more tedious and difficult to
exhibit."

He drew his poniard as he spoke, and disappeared from their sight. The
astonishment of the spectators was not yet dissipated, when he
disappeared with all his military officers, and said to his
magistrates, "Do you see such a general, such an officer that has
served so long in my army?" To every question they answered No. He
ceased then to be visible to the eyes of his warriors, and disappeared
with his Viziers and all the Doctors of the Law, designing by that
means to convince them fully, and leave no room for jealousy and
suspicion. "Return thanks, then, with me," added he, "to Allah and His
holy Prophet, for having made me the most powerful Prince upon earth."

He performed his action of thanks with a fervour worthy of the bounty
which Heaven had shown him, and all his courtiers followed his
example. When he had fulfilled that important duty, he said to them,

"The greatest vice of the human heart is ingratitude: it is to Damake
that I owe these powerful treasures; her beauty alone, her merit and
her virtue, would deserve the gratitude I shall my whole life preserve
for her; but gratitude ought to be accompanied with more than words: I
will this day unite her to me for ever."

All the Court and the grandees applauded his choice; and Nourgehan,
having commanded Damake to be brought, she appeared with all those
modest graces that nature had adorned her. When the Prince had given
her his hand in presence of the Great Imam, Damake, who had prostrated
herself before him, said with an audible voice,

"When I gave an account of the talismans of the great Seidel-Beckir, I
informed you, my lord, that there were four still subsisting in the
world: you have yet but three."

"Have I not riches enough in possessing thee?" returned Nourgehan.
"Thou art reckoned, perhaps, for the fourth; but they are not all of
half thy value."

"No, my lord," resumed Damake, casting her eyes upon the ground, and
presenting him with a ring, "this was wanting. This ring of steel
gives you a power of penetrating into the secrets of every heart.
Others, in my place, might look upon this talisman as a danger, but I
shall look upon it as a blessing if you still condescend to interest
yourself in the sentiments that you have for ever graved in mine; and
if I have the misfortune not