d the
sad remains of my dearest Chederazade."

Although my heart sank with grief, and my limbs tottered, yet I went
to reach the place where Chederazade lay embalmed, and fell at the
feet of my father Zebenezer.

"Rise," said he, "O daughter!" and caught me suddenly in his arms;
when, oh fearful sight! I perceived his visage alter, and that the
villanous Mahoud held me in his embrace.

Struck with horror and despair, I endeavoured to cry out, but in
vain--my voice was gone, and the power of speech was taken from me.

"No," said he, with a fierce air, "your struggles and resistance, O
prudent Princess, are all vain; for she who would join to deceive
others must expect to be deceived when there is none to help her;
therefore speech, if you resist, is taken from you."

"What," said I, "cruel Mahoud! is this the return my friendship
deserves, when, to save you from infamy and slavery, I gave way to
your entreaties, and represented you otherwise than you really were?"

"Friendship, O Princess," said he, "is built on virtue, which Mahoud
has disclaimed since he entered into the service of the sage
Hapacuson; and by her advice it was that he told you a false tale to
deceive you to your own destruction. Had you not yielded to that tale,
I could have had no power over you or your father; but it is our
triumph to circumvent the prudence of Mahomet's children; wherefore,
seeing you would not yield openly to my wishes, I had no sooner left
you with Eloubrou, than, by Hapacuson's assistance, I entered this
tomb invisibly, and, by my enchantments, overpowered your father
Zebenezer, and then, assuming his person, I sent for my Princess, and
she came obedient to my call. But, now," continued the false Mahoud,
"your cries will profit you but little; for Hapacuson, who is ever
hovering over Delhi, to watch the motions of the Sultan Misnar, has by
this time placed us in a repository of the dead, where we shall have
none to overhear or disturb us."

"Mahoud then showed me my father Zebenezer, whom, by his enchantment,
he had deprived of all sensation: he lay in a coffin of black marble,
in an inner apartment, and after that he vowed that he would desist
from force; but, till I consented to love him, I must be content to
live in the tomb.

"He, by his enchantments, obliged me to sleep in the place whence you
delivered me, and what time has elapsed during my confinement I know
not."

* * * * *

"P