'
ALMORAN, whose breast was again illuminated by hope, was about to
express his gratitude and joy; but the Genius suddenly disappeared. He
began, therefore, immediately to follow the instructions that he had
received: he commanded Osmyn to attend him in the grove, and forbad
every other to approach; by the power of the talisman he assumed his
appearance, and saw him sink down in the supernatural slumber before
him: he then quitted the place, and prepared to visit HAMET in the
prison.
CHAP. XVIII.
The officer who commanded the guard that kept the gate of the prison,
was Caled. He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn: but as he had
proposed a revolt to HAMET, in which Osmyn had refused to concur, he
knew that his life was now in his power; he dreaded lest, for some
slight offence, or in some fit of causeless displeasure, he should
disclose the secret to ALMORAN, who would then certainly condemn him to
death. To secure this fatal secret, and put an end to his inquietude, he
resolved, from the moment that ALMORAN was established upon the throne,
to find some opportunity secretly to destroy Osmyn: in this resolution,
he was confirmed by the enmity, which inferior minds never fail to
conceive against that merit, which they cannot but envy without spirit
to emulate, and by which they feel themselves disgraced without an
effort to acquire equal honour; it was confirmed also by the hope which
Caled had conceived, that, upon the death of Osmyn, he should succeed to
his post: his apprehensions likewise were increased, by the gloom which
he remarked in the countenance of Osmyn; and which not knowing that it
arose from fear, he imputed to jealousy and malevolence.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133