t by concealing one of the numbers. Let the faithless Moslem seek
for ever the missing bead.'

'O heaven,' cried Ibrahim, 'that unhappy day rises up before me. I had
cut the thread of the chaplet, while playing with Aurora. Holding the
ninety-nine beads in my hand she guessed "Odd," and in order that she
might lose I let one bead fall from my hand. Since then I have sought it
daily, but it never has been found.'

'Holy dervish!' cried the Bassa, 'how true were your words! From the
time that the sacred chaplet was no longer complete, my son has borne
the penalty. But may not the Book of Spells teach us how to deliver
Ibrahim also?'

'Listen,' said Sumi, 'this is what I find: "The coral bead lies in the
fifth fold of the dress of yellow brocade."' 'Ah, what good fortune!'
exclaimed the Bassa; 'we shall shortly see the beautiful Aurora, and
Ibrahim shall at once search in the fifth fold of her yellow brocade.
For it is she no doubt of whom the book speaks.'

As the Jewess closed the Book of Moizes, Zelida appeared, accompanied
by a whole train of slaves and her old nurse. At her entrance Hassan,
beside himself with joy, flung himself on his knees and kissed her hand.

'My lord,' he said to the Bassa, 'pardon me these transports. No elixir
of love was needed to inflame my heart! Let the marriage rite make us
speedily one.'

'My son, are you mad?' asked the Bassa. 'As long as the misfortunes of
your brothers last, shall you alone be happy? And whoever heard of a
bridegroom with a black hand? Wait yet a little longer, till the black
pig is drowned in the sea.'

'Yes! dear Hassan,' said Zelida, 'our happiness will be increased
tenfold when my sisters have regained their proper shapes. And here is
the elixir which I have brought with me, so that their joy may equal
ours.' And she held out the flask to the Bassa, who had it closed in his
presence.

Zambac was filled with joy at the sight of Zelida, and embraced her
with delight. Then she led the way into the garden, and invited all her
friends to seat themselves under the thick overhanging branches of
a splendid jessamine tree. No sooner, however, were they comfortably
settled, than they were astonished to hear a man's voice, speaking
angrily on the other side of the wall.

'Ungrateful girls!' it said, 'is this the way you treat me? Let me hide
myself for ever! This cave is no longer dark enough or deep enough for
me.'

A burst of laughter was the only answer, and t