"The guard laughed at his nose and told him the Princess was ill and could not sleep.
"'It is well,' answered he, 'I have a charm here to bring her sleep.'
"As soon as this was known he was quickly ordered to the chamber of the Princess, where resting on a couch she lay, while her ladies fanned her with fans made of fresh flowers which every ten minutes were brought to them by slaves.
"Although she felt very badly from want of sleep no sooner did she see the Prince with his new face than she began to laugh until she cried with mirth. 'For tears,' said Saadi the poet, 'are the diamonds of affliction and the pearls of merriment.'
"After a time however the Princess grew silent, although she did not dare to look at him when he talked. Now this was what he said,—'Here is an amulet for them that sleep not, or sleeping have evil dreams. Let thy ladies leave thee, and in a moment thou shalt sleep.'
"'Instantly begone!' cried the Princess to her maidens. 'Fly! I have no fears. Let a slave with a drawn scimetar keep the door and leave me with this wise and astonishing man.'
"Then, when there were none in the room but the Lady and himself, the Prince opened his gold box and lifted out of it a large opal which shone with a dim gray sleepy lustre with points of red and purple light.
"When he held the jewel up before her eyes she said, 'It has letters on it. What be they? What do they mean?'