sighed the unfortunate youth . ` It now comes back to my memory . One day the slave of Zambac was making a cake . She warned me not to touch , as the cake was mixed with lard , but I did not heed her , and in an instant my hand became the ebony that it now is . ' ` Holy dervish ! ' exclaimed the Bassa , ` how true were your words ! My son has neglected the advice you gave him on presenting him the bracelet , and he has been severely punished . But tell me , O wise Sumi , where I can find the last of the accursed race who has brought this doom on my son ? ' ` It is written here , ' replied Sumi , turning over some leaves . ` The little black pig is in the pink bag carried by the two Circassians . ' When he read this the Bassa sank on his cushions in despair . ` Ah , ' he said , ` that is the bag that was offered me this morning for three hundred sequins . Those must be the women who caused Izif and Izouf to dance , and took from them the two talismans of the daughters of Siroco . They only can break the spell that has been cast on us . Let them be found and I will gladly give them the half of my possessions . Idiot that I was to send them away ! ' While the Bassa was bewailing his folly , Ibrahim in his turn had opened the book , and blushed deeply as he read the words : ` The chaplet of beads has been defiled by the game of `` Odd and Even . '' Its owner has tried to cheat 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 XXXXX , while playing with Aurora .
Ibrahim Izif Izouf Siroco Sumi Zambac chaplet day morning talismans