And the odalisk said the words in such an agony of despair that the eunuch was quite touched by it.
"Thou shouldst entrust the matter to another."
"If only I could find someone who can dive under the water, I would give him three costly bracelets for it; I would give away all my treasures."
"I can dive," said Majmun, seized by avarice.
"Oh, descend then into the water for me," implored the damsel, falling on her knees before him and covering the horny hand of the slave with her kisses. "But art thou not afraid of being suffocated? For then in the eyes of the governor I should be twice guilty."
"Fear not on my account. In my youth I was a pearl-fisher in the Indian Ocean, and I can remain under water and look about me like a fish, even at night, while thou dost count one hundred. Only show me the place where the ring fell from thy finger."
Azrael drew a pearl necklace from her arm and casting it into the water, pointed at the place where it fell.
"It was on the very spot where I have cast that; if thou dost fetch up both of them for me, the second one shall be thine."
Majmun perceived that this was not exactly a joke, and laying aside his garment and his weapon, bade the damsel look after them, and quickly slipped beneath the water.
In a few seconds the eunuch's terrified face emerged above the water and he struck out for the shore with a horrified expression.