ALMORAN observing the success of his artifice, soon after, as if by a
sudden and casual recollection, again mentioned the lady; and told him,
he would congratulate Abdallah upon having resigned her to his bed. As
HAMET could not bear to think of ALMORAN'S mentioning ALMEIDA to her
father as his mistress, he replied, that he had no such intimacy with
ALMEIDA as he supposed; and that he had so high an opinion of her
virtue, as to believe, that if he should propose it she would not
consent. The imagination of ALMORAN caught new fire from beauties which
he found were yet unenjoyed, and virtue which stamped them with superior
value by rendering them more difficult of access; and as HAMET had
renounced a connection with her as a mistress, he wanted only to know
whether he intended her for a wife.
This secret he was contriving to discover, when HAMET, having reflected,
that if he concealed this particular, ALMORAN might think himself at
liberty to make what attempts he should think fit upon ALMEIDA, without
being accountable to him, or giving him just cause of offence, put an
end to his doubts, by telling him, he had such a design; but that it
would be some time before he should carry it into execution. This
declaration increased ALMORAN'S impatience: still, however, he concealed
his interest in the conversation, which he now suffered to drop.
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