HAMET, who knew not
to what he owed this sudden and unexpected interview, which, though he
wished, he could contrive no means to obtain; imagined that ALMEIDA had
some request, and therefore urged her tenderly to make it: but as she
still remained silent, he looked at Abdallah, as expecting to hear it
from him. 'We have no wish,' said Abdallah, 'but to atone for our
offence; nor any request, but that my lord would now accept the thanks
of ALMEIDA for the life which he has preserved, and impute the delay,
not to ingratitude, but inadvertence: let me now take her back, as thy
gift; and let the light of thy favour be upon us.' 'Take her then,' said
HAMET; 'for I would give her only to thee.'
These words of HAMET did not escape the notice either of Abdallah or
ALMEIDA; but neither of them mentioned their conjectures to the other.
ALMEIDA, who was inclined to judge of HAMET'S situation by her own, and
who recollected many little incidents, known only to herself, which
favoured her wishes; indulged the hope, that she should again hear of
HAMET, with more confidence than her father; nor were her expectations
disappointed. HAMET reflected with pleasure, that he had prepared the
way for a more explicit declaration; and as his impatience increased
with his passion every hour, he sent for Abdallah the next morning, and
told him, that he wished to be more acquainted with his daughter, with a
view to make her his wife: 'As neither you nor your daughter are my
subjects,' says HAMET, 'I cannot command you; and if you were, upon this
occasion I would not.
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