five o'clock
`` The dragon has raised all his twelve heads , my master , '' said he to the Sultan ; `` now is the time to cut them all off , or it will devour thy empire . '' The Sultan , who greatly loved the youth , wiped the sweat from his face with his own handkerchief , and bade him await him below in the banqueting-chamber . And with that he resumed his devotions . Towards five o'clock , when the sun rose from behind the blue hills of Asia in all its glory , the Sultan descended from the roof of his palace and commanded his servants and men-at-arms to form in rank in front of the palace . All the fighting-men he had with him were a thousand akinjis and about as many horsemen , silihdars , and bostanjis . He himself first went to take leave of his womenkind . Those who had seen his face but an hour ago were amazed at the change that had come over it .