In this disposition, and with this design, he was admitted to ALMEIDA;
who, without suspicion of her danger, was exposed to the severest trial,
in which every passion concurred to oppose her virtue: she was solicited
by all the powers of subtilty and desire, under the appearance of a
lover whose tenderness and fidelity had been long tried, and whose
passion she returned with equal constancy and ardour; and she was thus
solicited, when the rites which alone could consecrate their union, were
impossible, and were rendered impossible by the guilty designs of a
rival, in whose power she was, and from whom no other expedient offered
her a deliverance. Thus deceived and betrayed, she received him with an
excess of tenderness and joy, which flattered all his hopes, and for a
moment suspended his misery. She enquired, with a fond and gentle
solicitude, by what means he had gained admittance, and how he had
provided for his retreat. He received and returned her caresses with a
vehemence, in which, to less partial eyes, desire would have been more
apparent than love; and in the tumult of his passion, he almost
neglected her enquiries: finding, however, that she would be answered,
he told her, that being by the permission of ALMORAN admitted to every
part of the palace, except that of the women, he had found means to
bribe the eunuch who kept the door; who was not in danger of detection,
because ALMORAN, wearied with the tumult and fatigue of the day, had
retired to sleep, and given order to be called at a certain hour.
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