By this time, HAMET, on whose form the likeness of ALMORAN was still
impressed, had reached the palace. He went instantly towards the
apartment of the women. Instead of that chearful alacrity, that mixture
of zeal and reverence and affection, which his eye had been used to find
where-ever it was turned, he now observed confusion, anxiety and terror;
whoever he met, made haste to prostrate themselves before him, and
feared to look up till he was past. He went on, however, with a hasty
pace; and coming up to the eunuch's guard, he said with an impatient
tone; 'To ALMEIDA.' The slave immediately made way before him, and
conducted him to the door of the apartment, which he would not otherwise
have been able to find, and for which he could not directly enquire.
When he entered, his countenance expressed all the passions that his
situation had roused in his mind. He first looked sternly round him, to
see whether ALMORAN was not present; and then fetching a deep sigh he
turned his eyes, with a look of mournful tenderness, upon ALMEIDA. His
first view was to discover, whether ALMORAN had already supplanted him;
and for this purpose he collected the whole strength of his mind: he
considered that he appeared now, not as HAMET, but as ALMORAN; and that
he was to question ALMEIDA concerning ALMORAN, while she had mistaken
him for HAMET; he was therefore to maintain the character, at whatever
expence, till his doubts were resolved, and his fears either removed or
confirmed: he was so firmly persuaded, that ALMORAN had been there
before him, that he did not ask the question, but supposed the fact; he
restrained alike both his tenderness and his fears; and looking
earnestly upon ALMEIDA, who had risen up in his presence with blushes
and confusion, 'To me,' says he, 'is ALMEIDA still cold? and has she
lavished all her love upon HAMET?'
At the name of HAMET, the blushes and confusion of ALMEIDA increased:
her mind was still full of the images, which had risen from the thought
of what HAMET might suffer, if ALMORAN should know that he had been with
her; and though she feared that their interview was discovered, yet she
hoped it might be only suspected, and in that case the removal or
confirmation of the suspicions, on which the fate of HAMET depended,
would devolve upon her.
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