*

Amidst the cries of "Long live Acota, Souffraria's legitimate king!"
Acota was led to the throne by the attendant grandees of the nation,
where he received the homage of all present. It was arranged by the
grandees and mollahs that the marriage should take place the next day.
The assembly broke up, and hastened in every direction to make
preparations for the expected ceremony.

But who can describe the jealousy, the envy, and the indignation which
swelled in the breasts of Mezrimbi and his father, the chief Brahmin?
They met, they consulted, they planned, and they schemed. Acota was not
yet king, although he was proclaimed as such--he was not king until his
marriage with the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu, "the cream-tart of
delight," and should he be scarred or blemished before the marriage of
the ensuing day, then must the Brahmin, by the will of the old king,
choose his successor; and who could he choose but his own son?

"Father," said young Mezrimbi, his beautiful countenance distorted by
the vilest passions of Jehanum, "I have planned as follows:--I have
mutes ready to obey my wishes, and a corrosive burning acid, which will
eat deeply into the flesh of the proud Acota. I know that he will pass
the time away in the garden of the royal grove. I know even the bower in
which he hath wooed and won the fair princess. Let us call these mutes,
explain to them what we wish, and by to-morrow's sun the throne of
Souffraria will fall to the race of Mezrimbi. Are we not of the purest
blood of the plains, and is not Acota but a rayah of the mountains?"

And the chief Brahmin was pleased with his son's proposal; the mutes
were summoned, the black, tongueless, everythingless, hideous creatures,
bowed in their humility, and followed their master, who, with the chief
Brahmin, ventured by a circuitous route to invade the precincts of the
royal grove. Slowly and cautiously did they proceed towards the bower,
where, as Mezrimbi had truly said, Acota was waiting for his beloved
princess. Fortunately, as they approached, a disturbed snake, hissing in
his anger, caused an exclamation from the old Brahmin, which aroused
Acota from his delicious reverie. Through the foliage he perceived and
recognised Mezrimbi, his father, and the mutes. Convinced that they
meditated mischief towards himself, he secreted himself among the
rose-bushes, lying prostrate on the ground; but in his haste, he left
his cloak and mandolin. Mezrimbi ent