well away.  We have endured toil and travail, and we have travelled so far and wide hoping to wed the Princess Nur al-Nihar.  But ’tis all in vain:  I saw her lying on her bed death-sick and like to breathe her last and around her stood her women all weeping and wailing in the sorest of sorrow.  O my brothers, an ye would see her once again for the last time, take ye one final look through the glass ere she be no more.”  Hereat Prince Ali seized the Spying Tube and peered through it and found the condition of the Princess even as his brother Husayn had described; so he presently passed it over to Prince Ahmad, who also looked and was certified that the Lady Nur al-Nihar was about to give up the ghost.  So he said to his elder brothers, “We three are alike love distraught for the Princess and the dearest wish of each one is to win her.  Her life is on the ebb, still I can save her and make her whole if we hasten to her without stay or delay.”  So saying he pulled from his pocket the Magical Apple and showed it to them crying, “This thing is not less in value than either the Flying Carpet or the Spying Tube.  In Samarkand I bought it for forty thousand gold pieces and here is the best opportunity to try its virtues.  The folk told me that if a sick man hold it to his nose, although on the point of death, he will wax at once well and hale again:  I have myself tested it, and now ye shall see for yourselves its marvel-cure when I shall apply it to the case of Nur al-Nihar.  Only, let us seek her presence ere she die.”  Quoth Prince Husayn, “This were an easy matter:  my carpet shall carry us in the twinkling of an eye straight to the bedside of our beloved.  Do ye without hesitation sit down with me thereupon, for there is room sufficient to accommodate us three; we shall instantly be carried thither and our servants can follow us.”  Accordingly, the three Princes disposed themselves upon the Flying Carpet and each willed in his mind to reach the bedside of Nur al-Nihar, when instantly they found themselves within her apartment.  The handmaids and eunuchs in waiting were terrified at the sight and marvelled how these stranger men could have entered the chamber; and, as the Castratos were fain fall upon them, brand in hand, they recognised the Princes and drew back still in wonderment at their intrusion.  Then the brothers rose forthright from the Flying Carpet and Prince Ahmad came forwards and put the Magical Apple to the nostrils of the lady, who lay stretched on the couch in unconscious state; and as the scent reached her brain the sickness left her and the cure was complete.  She opened wide her eyes and sitting erect upon her bed looked all around and chiefly at the Princes as they stood before her; for she felt that she had waxed hale and hearty as though she awoke after the sweetest of slumber.  Presently she arose from her couch and bade her tire-women dress her the while they related to her the sudden coming of the three Princes, her uncle’s sons, and how Prince Ahmad had made her smell something whereby she had recovered of her illness.  And after she had made the Ablution of Health she joyed with exceeding joy to see the Princes and returned thanks to them, but chiefly to Prince Ahmad in that he had restored her to health and life.—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till