"Why,  O  gentle  daughter  of  the
Magian  !  "  said  the  Prince  one  day,  as  the
damsel  passed  through  a  hall  of  the  palace,
"why!  O  fairest  of  women,  wilt  thou  not
smile  upon  me  ?  Is  thy  heart,  indeed,  of
stone?  See!  we  shall  have  dominion  and
wealth,  and  the  earth  will  not  be  able  to  con
tain  my  love  for  thee.  Upon  thy  chiselled
arm  — "  Here  the  Prince  drew  forth  a
bracelet  of  finest  gold,  glittering  brightly
with  diamonds,  rubies,  emeralds  and  pearls,
set  with  such  combination  of  their  colors  as
to  produce  a  most  remarkable  effect,  and  half
clasped  it  around  her  tapering  arm.
Taking  it  quickly  from  her  wrist,  she
seemed  at  first  about  to  throw  it  into  the
fountain  playing  in  the  hall,  but  turned  and
respectfully  gave  it  to  the  Prince  again,  say
ing,  with  mingled  scorn  and  deference  :

"  Though  thou  wert  *Cashna  himself,
and  heir  to  a  kingdom  mightier  than  that  of

*An  Indian  god  of  perfect  beauty,  especially  idolized    by     the
women.
THE  FALL  OF  UTOPIA.  19

f  Kai  Khusru,  he  whom  I  love  would  not  be
forsaken,  O  Prince,  for  thee  !  "

When  the  news  of  her  petted  son's  inef
fectual  efforts  to  win  the  heart  of  the
Magian's  daughter  finally  reached  the  ears  of
the  Queen,  she,  desiring  to  behold  what
supernatural  graces  characterized  the  man
who  had  been  preferred  to  a  prince  of  the
blood,  immediately  commanded  that  Abdul
Hassan  be  brought  before  her.
Scarcely  had  the  graceful  young  Arab
crossed  the  threshold  and  paused  before  the
Queen,  when  her  eyes  alighted  upon  an
amethyst  signet  on  his  hand.
