One last visitor appeared. This woman, the slave of a rich family, told a curious story. "I was at the riverside, doing the washing of the family," she explained, "when I saw a camel approaching. There was no camel driver in sight, and no one was riding it. The camel walked into the river. There it stopped. It just stood there in the water.
       
       "The camel was loaded with pots and pans and other kitchen utensils. All of them were dirty and heavily used. One after another these utensils disengaged themselves, fell into the water, washed and rinsed themselves clean, then refastened themselves to the camel's back. All the time there was no one to be seen, no man and no woman.
       
       "When all the utensils had washed themselves and were back in place, the animal began to return from whence it had come. Quickly I ran into the water and grabbed its tail. The camel dragged me out of the river and up the other bank. It did not seem hindered by me, so I let myself be towed along a path through the desert.
       
       "After a long time we came to the foot of the mountains. There, in front of a sheer rock wall, the camel halted. I thought this must be the end of the journey. Suddenly a gate opened in the rock, and the camel entered a spacious garden. In the garden there was a pond with a fountain and behind it stood a lovely castle. At once the gates of the castle swung open, and all the utensils flew through the air and disappeared into the castle's kitchen. All the while the pots and pans were talking to each other: 'You go in first.' 'No, you go first. I'll follow you.'
       
       "I let go of the camel's tail and walked into the kitchen. All the utensils there were made of silver and gold. Suddenly, I heard a rustling above me as two big birds alighted by the pond. One bird was a beautiful creamy white; the other was shining jet black, like ebony or india ink, beautiful! At once they plunged into the pond, splashed around, and emerged from the water, miraculously transformed into two tall young men. Both were very handsome. One was dressed richly, like a prince, all in white. The other was dressed in black velvet and seemed to be his companion's chamberlain or equerry.
       
       "When the men entered the palace together, I followed them and hid behind the curtains. They sat at a table. I saw no servants, but refreshments came in, suspended in the air, carried by invisible hands. Silver plates were loaded with the choicest delicacies and cups with the most delicious beverages, tea and coffee. When the young men had finished eating and drinking, the invisible servants carried the trays away again.
       
       "The prince then asked his companion for his jewel box. When it was brought to him, he opened it and took out a very pretty ring. 'She threw this ring at me,' he said, 'but why? Does it signify that she rejected me? If only I could marry her!'
       
       "As he was speaking, the ring shed tears and sobbed sadly. Then the prince took out a golden anklet. 'Why did she throw me this lovely anklet?' he wondered. 'Did she mean that she wanted me to come and put it on her ankle adoringly, to show her my love?'
       
       "The anklet, too, shed tears and sobbed sadly. Then he took out a tiara, a lovely dainty diadem, and exclaimed: 'Why did she throw this priceless jewel at me? Did she mean to say that her title of princess was worth less to her than the love I feel? Or did she reject both me and her title?'
       
       "The diadem sighed and sobbed audibly in his hand. The prince went on lamenting his forsaken love: 'Her cheeks, now pale with illness, were once like rose petals: delicately beautiful. Her mouth has a perfect shape and color, her nose is as straight as a sword, her eyebrows are like two bows, her hair is like shining silk, her hands are sculpted like ivory, her whole being is perfect. She has enchanted me forever!'
       
       "While the white prince was thus expressing his love for the princess, the jewels lay in their box, sobbing disconsolately."
       
       To the secret garden
       
       The princess, captivated by her visitor's tale, wept with longing for the man who loved her. The slave girl continued her enthralling story. "I spent the night in that room," she said. "The prince and his companion soon left, presumably to sleep in some other part of the castle. The next morning I went to the kitchen. I saw what I expected to see. The kitchen utensils, used and dirty again, were flying out--one after the other--in the direction of the camel, which was waiting outside.
       
       "The moment it departed, with all the spoons, knives, and silver plates on its back, I got hold of its tail and let myself be towed as far as the river. There the camel stopped, as it had done before. I found my laundry untouched on the bank.