midnight
The moments flew with fearful speed , and pressing her tenderly to his heart , the pretended Jew had only time to resume his disguise when the Bey entered . He saw in the face of his child a color and spirit that had not been there for months before , and delighted , he turned to the Jew to know if he had administered any of his cunning medicines , and being told that a small portion of the necessary article had been given , was overjoyed at the effect . Being of a naturally superstitious race , the Turk heard the Jew 's proposition as it regarded the administering of his next dose of medicine beneath the calm rays of the moon in the open air , with satisfaction ; for had he not already worked a miracle upon his child ? He was told that by administering the medicine once or twice at the proper moment beneath the midnight rays of the moon , he should doubtless be able to effect a perfect cure . Satisfied fully of what he had seen and heard , he dismissed the pretended Jew with a heavy purse of gold , and bade him choose his own time , telling him also that his palace gates should ever be open to him . Beautiful as a poet 's fancy can picture , is the seraglio , a fitting home for the proud Turkish monarch , gemmed with gardens , fantastic palaces , and every variety of building and tree on its gentle slope , descending so gracefully towards the sea , spreading before the eye its towers , domes , and dark spots of cypresses like a sacred division of the city of Constantinople , as indeed it is to the eye of the true believer . The Sultan 's household were removed at his will from the Valley of Sweet Waters hither and back again , as fancy might dictate .