some German song of Clara's grace and beauty, the sound of which rang
with strange sweetness through the desert, while it happily beguiled
his solitary hours.

Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on
her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at
her and shook his head, saying, "It is inconceivable to me, sweet
maiden, why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out
here in the desert. You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic
arts, since the spirit of truth and love dwells within you. If you
would only transform the oasis into the natural form in which the
good God created it, I would go there with you, and we should have
far more time for holy converse." "Sir," replied Zelinda, "you speak
truly. I too have thought for some days of doing so and the matter
would have been already set on foot, but a strange visitor fetters my
power. The Dervish whom you saw in Tunis is with me, and as in
former times we have practised many magic tricks with each other, he
would like again to play the old game. He perceives the change in
me, and on that account urges me all the more vehemently and
dangerously."

"He must either be driven away or converted," said Heimbert, girding
on his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the
ground. "Have the goodness, dear maiden," he continued, "to lead me
to your enchanted isle."

"You avoided it so before," said the astonished Zeiinda," and it is
still unchanged in its fantastic form."

"Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have