d learned the importance of the two watches I had left at the
stranger's. I hastened to his house, but he had gone out, and I could
only find the slave, whom I told that I was the bearer of important news
for his master. Believing me to be one of his friends, he begged me to
wait, and showed me into a room where I saw the two watches lying on the
table. I put them in my pocket, leaving the four hundred sequins in
place of the gold watch and three gold pieces which I knew to be the
price of the other. As you know the watches never remain with the person
who buys them, this man may think himself very lucky to get back his
money. I have wound them both up, and at this instant Aurora and
Argentine are locked safely into my own room.'

Everybody was so delighted to hear this news that Azemi was nearly
stifled with their embraces, and Neangir could hardly be prevented from
running to break in the door, though he did not even know where the page
slept.

But the page begged to have the honour of fetching the ladies himself,
and soon returned leading them by the hand.

For some minutes all was a happy confusion, and Ibrahim took advantage
of it to fall on his knees before Aurora, and search in the fifth fold
of her dress for the missing coral bead. The Book of Spells had told the
truth; there it was, and as the chaplet was now complete the young man's
days of seeking were over.

In the midst of the general rejoicing Hassan alone bore a gloomy face.

'Alas!' he said, 'everyone is happy but the miserable being you see
before you. I have lost the only consolation in my grief, which was to
feel that I had a brother in misfortune!'

'Be comforted,' replied the Bassa; 'sooner or later the dervish who
stole the pink bag is sure to be found.'

Supper was then served, and after they had all eaten of rare fruits
which seemed to them the most delicious in the whole world, the Bassa
ordered the flask containing the elixir of love to be brought and the
young people to drink of it. Then their eyes shone with a new fire, and
they swore to be true to each other till death.

This ceremony was scarcely over when the clock struck one, and in an
instant Aurora and Argentine had vanished, and in the place where they
stood lay two watches. Silence fell upon all the company--they had
forgotten the enchantment; then the voice of Azemi was heard asking if
he might be allowed to take charge of the watches till the next day,
pledging his head to