`` Unhappy wretches ! '' cried she , `` is it thus that you have followed the counsels of your father ? This very morning I consulted my magic books , and saw you in the act of abandoning your hearts to the fatal passion which will one day be your ruin . No , do not think I will tamely bear this insult ! It was I who wrote the letter which stopped Zelida in the act of drinking the elixir of love ! As for you , '' she went on , turning to my brothers , `` you do not yet know what those two watches will cost you ! But you can learn it now , and the knowledge of the truth will only serve to render your lives still more miserable . '' ` As she spoke she held out the sacred book written by Moïzes , and pointed to the following lines : ' `` If at midnight the watches are wound with the key of gold and the key of silver , they will resume their proper shapes during the first hour of the day . They will always remain under the care of a woman , and will come back to her wherever they may be . And the woman appointed to guard them is the daughter of Moïzes . '' ` My brothers were full of rage when they saw themselves outwitted , but there was no help for it . The watches were delivered up to Sumi and they went their way , while I remained behind curious to see what would happen . ` As night wore on Sumi wound up both watches , and when midnight struck Aurora and her sister made their appearance . They knew nothing of what had occurred and supposed they had just awakened from sleep , but when Sumi 's story made them understand their terrible fate , they both sobbed with despair and were only consoled when Sumi promised never to forsake them . Then one o'clock sounded , and they became watches again . ` All night long I was a prey to vague fears , and I felt as if something unseen was pushing me on -- in what direction I did not know . At dawn I rose and went out , meeting Izif in the street suffering from the same dread as myself . We agreed that Constantinople was no place for us any longer , and calling to Izouf to accompany us , we left the city together , but soon determined to travel separately , so that we might not be so easily recognised by the spies of Siroco . ' A few days later I found myself at the door of an old castle near the sea , before which a tall slave was pacing to and fro . The gift of one or two worthless jewels loosened his tongue , and he informed me that he was in the service of the son of the Bassa of the Sea , at that time making war in distant countries .
The youth , he told me , had been destined from his boyhood to marry the daughter of XXXXX , whose sisters were to be the brides of his brothers , and went on to speak of the talisman that his charge possessed .
Izif Izouf Moïzes Siroco day elixir fro night o'clock war