Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/112

 He believed that it was not the spirit from which the old woman had liberated him but the young man who had beaten him. And he gave his servants the order to behead him early in the next morning. So, the servants took him from the hands of the counselor's daughters and led him to another room nearby, to carry out the order of their master. When they arrived Rammo used the secret which put them to sleep, and when they had fallen asleep, he cut the hair and beards of the servants and went back to his room.

Then, at dawn the counselor went to the place where his servants were. And he found them all discouraged and sorrowful because their hair and beards had been cut off. The counselor was very surprised and asked them if they had killed the evildoer. After he had heard the whole story, he became very confused and sorrowful and left them. He immediately sent for the old woman and told her of his misfortune.

“Truly,” Rammo told him, “Now, I know, sir, that this is the collaborative work of man and of spirit; but do not doubt that with some of my prayers I nevertheless hope that I will soon be able to free you from your troubles." And he commanded the spirit that he no longer had to beat him, and he also did not trouble his daughters for many days.

Thereupon the counselor became very tranquil and completely forgot his last misadventure. And once again he started to enjoy himself amorously with the Sultana.