And wrapping her veil round her she went out . Midnight was striking as she reached the spot where she had met the head so many hours before . ` Ahmed ! Ahmed ! Ahmed ! ' cried she , and immediately a huge negro , as tall as a giant , stood on the bridge before her . ` What do you want ? ' asked he . ` The head , your master , desires you to open the trunk , and to give me the green purse which you will find in it . ' ' I will be back in a moment , good mother , ' said he . And three minutes later he placed a purse full of sequins in the old woman 's hand . No one can imagine the joy of the whole family at the sight of all this wealth . The tiny , tumble-down cottage was rebuilt , the girls had new dresses , and their mother ceased selling veils . It was such a new thing to them to have money to spend , that they were not as careful as they might have been , and by-and-by there was not a single coin left in the purse . When this happened their hearts sank within them , and their faces fell . ` Have you spent your fortune ? ' asked the head from its corner , when it saw how sad they looked . ` Well , then , go at midnight , good mother , to the bridge , and call out `` Mahomet ! '' three times , as loud as you can . A negro will appear in answer , and you must tell him to open the trunk , and to give you the red purse which he will find there . '
The old woman did not need twice telling , but set off XXXXX once for the bridge .
as at before from in of on that to within