Then I declared I felt thirsty and begged the slave to fetch me some water , and while he was absent I advised the youth to take off his turban , so as to cool his head . He complied gladly , and in the twinkling of an eye was changed into a pot . A cry from the slave warned me that I had no time to lose if I would save my life , so I snatched up the pot and fled with it like the wind . ` You have heard , my lords , what became of the pot , so I will only say now that when I awoke it had disappeared ; but I was partly consoled for its loss by finding my two brothers fast asleep not far from me . `` How did you get here ? '' I inquired , `` and what has happened to you since we parted ? '' ' `` Alas ! '' replied Izouf , `` we were passing a wayside inn from which came sounds of songs and laughter , and fools that we were -- we entered and sat down . Circassian girls of great beauty were dancing for the amusement of several men , who not only received us politely , but placed us near the two loveliest maidens . Our happiness was complete , and time flew unknown to us , when one of the Circassians leaned forward and said to her sister , ` Their brother danced , and they must dance too . ' What they meant by these words I know not , but perhaps you can tell us ? '' ' `` I understand quite well , '' I replied . `` They were thinking of the day that I stole the son of the Bassa , and had danced before him . '' ' `` Perhaps you are right , '' continued Izouf , `` for the two ladies took our hands and danced with us till we were quite exhausted , and when at last we sat down a second time to table we drank more wine than was good for us . Indeed , our heads grew so confused , that when the men jumped up and threatened to kill us , we could make no resistance and suffered ourselves to be robbed of everything we had about us , including the most precious possession of all , the two talismans of the daughters of Siroco . '' ` Not knowing what else to do , we all three returned to Constantinople to ask the advice of Sumi , and found that she was already aware of our misfortunes , having read about them in the book of Moïzes . The kind-hearted creature wept bitterly at our story , but , being poor herself , could give us little help . At last I proposed that every morning we should sell the silver watch into which Argentine was changed , as it would return to Sumi every evening unless it was wound up with the silver key -- which was not at all likely . Sumi consented , but only on the condition that we would never sell the watch without ascertaining the house where it was to be found , so that she might also take Aurora thither , and thus Argentine would not be alone if by any chance she was wound up at the mystic hour . For some weeks now we have lived by this means , and the two daughters of Siroco have never failed to return to Sumi each night .
Yesterday Izouf sold the silver watch to this young man , and in the evening placed the gold watch on the steps by order of XXXXX , just before his customer entered the house ; from which both watches came back early this morning . '
Argentine Aurora Bassa Circassian Izouf Moïzes Sumi right second weeks