succeeding by means of your treasures, which, as there are now so many
others in store, may without fear be exhausted."

Accordingly the princess, who possessed the most consummate skill in the
art of persuasion, went immediately back through the subterranean
passage; and presenting herself to the populace, from a window of the
palace, began to harangue them with all the address of which she was
mistress, whilst Bababalouk showered money from both hands amongst the
crowd, who by these united means were soon appeased; every person retired
to his home, and Carathis returned to the tower.

Prayer at break of day was announced, when Carathis and Vathek ascended
the steps which led to the summit of the tower, where they remained for
some time, though the weather was lowering and wet. This impending gloom
corresponded with their malignant dispositions; but when the sun began to
break through the clouds they ordered a pavilion to be raised, as a
screen from the intrusion of his beams. The Caliph, overcome with
fatigue, sought refreshment from repose, at the same time hoping that
significant dreams might attend on his slumbers; whilst the indefatigable
Carathis, followed by a party of her mutes, descended to prepare whatever
she judged proper for the oblation of the approaching night.

By secret stairs, known only to herself and to her son, she first
repaired to the mysterious recesses in which were deposited the mummies
that had been brought from the catacombs of the ancient Pharaohs; of
these she ordered several to be taken. From thence she resorted to a
gallery where, under the guard of fifty female negroes, mute and blind of
the right eye, were preserved the oil of the most venomous serpents,
rhinoceros' horns, and woods of a subtle and penetrating odour procured
from the interior of the Indies, together with a thousand other horrible
rarities. This collection had been formed for a purpose like the present
by Carathis herself, from a presentment that she might one day enjoy some
intercourse with the infernal powers to whom she had ever been
passionately attached, and to whose taste she was no stranger.

To familiarise herself the better with the horrors in view, the princess
remained in the company of her negresses, who squinted in the most
amiable manner from the only eye they had, and leered with exquisite
delight at the skulls and skeletons which Carathis had drawn forth from
her cabinets, whose key she entrusted t