ot let them, and sent
to them to come to him. When they approached he said: "If I had given
you leave, you would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that
which I would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your
bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this
moment your lives will be always dear to me."

The emperor, in short, conceived so great a kindness for the two
princes, that he invited them immediately to make him a visit, to which
Prince Bahman replied: "Your majesty does us an honour we do not
deserve, and we beg you will excuse us."

The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could have
to refuse this token of his favour, pressed them to tell him why they
excused themselves. "Sir," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger
than ourselves, with whom we live in such perfect union, that we
undertake nothing before we consult her, nor she anything without asking
our advice." "I commend your brotherly affection," answered the emperor.
"Consult your sister, meet me to-morrow, and give me an answer."

The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure in
meeting the emperor and hunting with him, and also of the honour he had
done them, yet did not the next morning fail to meet him at the place
appointed. "Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister,
and has she consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" The two
princes looked at each other and blushed. "Sir," said Prince Bahman, "we
beg your majesty to excuse us, for both my brother and I forgot." "Then
remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and be sure to bring me an
answer to-morrow."

The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the emperor
was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to prevent their
forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little golden balls out of
a purse, and put them into Prince Bahman's bosom. "These balls," said
he, smiling, "will prevent your forgetting a third time what I wish you
to do for my sake; since the noise they will make by falling on the
floor when you undress will remind you, if you do not recollect it
before." The event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without
these balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of
this affair, for as Prince Bahman unloosed his girdle to go to bed the
balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into Prince Perviz's
chamber, when