"Well, well, be discreet, and purchase shrewdly," said the Sultan,
resuming his pipe.

And in this manner the Sultan forgot his lovely slave, and removing
the mouth-piece of his pipe now and then, continued to question his
slave touching the matters that seemed to pertain to his department
of the household.

Poor Lalla! she had only her own unhappiness to brood upon as she
sat by some rippling fountain and watched its silvery jets and
sparkling drops, at times forgetting for a moment her sadness of
heart in the beauty that completely surrounded her; and then again,
perhaps mingling her tears with the fragrant blossoms that strewed
her lap and filled her hands. Alas! poor child! how it would have
eased the quick beating of thy heart if thou couldst have told the
story of thy unhappiness to some other confiding spirit.

The idiot boy would watch these tears, and at times he would wear a
fixed, vacant stare, as though he took no note of their meaning; and
at others, he would seem to comprehend their sorrowful import. When
this was the case, he would creep close to her side and lay his head
by her feet, and closing his eyes, remain as motionless as death.
This would at length arouse her from her unhappy mood, and she would
turn and gently caress the poor boy. Once when she had done this,
she saw a large tear drop steal out from beneath his closed eyelids,
and fall across his check. She rejoiced at this, for, while all
others set him down as without feeling, she saw that kindness at
least would awaken his heart.

Lalla had been weeping, and now sat alone by a bed of fragrant