eneath this dome a general silence prevailed, for there was nothing to
disturb it but the jaws of Bababalouk, who had untrussed himself to eat
with greater advantage, being anxious to make amends for his fast in the
mountains. As his spirits were too high to admit of his sleeping, and
not loving to be idle, he proposed with himself to visit the harem, and
repair to his charge of the ladies, to examine if they had been properly
lubricated with the balm of Mecca, if their eyebrows and tresses were in
order, and, in a word, to perform all the little offices they might need.
He sought for a long time together, but without being able to find out
the door; he durst not speak aloud, for fear of disturbing the Caliph,
and not a soul was stirring in the precincts of the palace; he almost
despaired of effecting his purpose, when a low whispering just reached
his ear; it came from the dwarfs who were returned to their old
occupation, and for the nine hundred and ninety-ninth time in their
lives, were reading over the Koran. They very politely invited
Bababalouk to be of their party, but his head was full of other concerns.
The dwarfs, though scandalised at his dissolute morals, directed him to
the apartments he wanted to find; his way thither lay through a hundred
dark corridors, along which he groped as he went, and at last began to
catch from the extremity of a passage the charming gossiping of the
women, which not a little delighted his heart. "Ah, ha! what, not yet
asleep!" cried he; and, taking long strides as he spoke. "Did you not
suspect me of abjuring my charge? I stayed but to finish what my master
had left."

Two of the black eunuchs, on hearing a voice so loud, detached a party in
haste, sabre in hand, to discover the cause; but presently was repeated
on all sides: "'Tis only Bababalouk! no one but Bababalouk!" This
circumspect guardian, having gone up to a thin veil of carnation-coloured
silk that hung before the doorway, distinguished, by means of the
softened splendour that shone through it, an oval bath of dark porphyry,
surrounded by curtains festooned in large folds; through the apertures
between them, as they were not drawn close, groups of young slaves were
visible, amongst whom Bababalouk perceived his pupils, indulgingly
expanding their arms, as if to embrace the perfumed water and refresh
themselves after their fatigues. The looks of tender languor, their
confidential whispers, and the enchanting smile