But the day came when I resolutely escaped, and I returned no more to sing on the tables of the Greek wine-shops. I left those simple-minded men, with their hands rough from the ropes, with their curly hair on their fine heads, who deprived themselves of necessities to increase my childish amusements - I said to them quite simply, "Adieu, mes amis." And that was all. I went to find Hussein the boatman, and told him it was my heart's desire to go in his boat near the villa of the Egyptian Prince, and Hussein, who could refuse me nothing, took me.
The Prince and his suite were at that moment preparing to start in their six-oared boats as our caíq entered the little gulf of Keurfesse. Hussein passed respectfully at some distance, but I, quickly tearing off my dress, tied a large gaily-coloured cloth round me and jumped into the sea. I could swim like a flying fish, and whilst cleaving the water, I promised a thousand presents to poor horror-stricken Hussein. "If the Prince adopts me, you shall be my first boatman," I cried to him.
I kept on swimming, my heart beating violently in my breast, frozen by the cold. The Prince and his suite watched with curiosity this child that approached them, and he asked me gently if I were not tired.
"No, since I see you, son of the King," I answered, blushing like a fine sunset.
"Help the child out of the water, and bring her to me," ordered the Prince, who then turned, and quickly entered the courtyard of the palace.
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