s of joy
intreat they may present it to your majesty in person."

"Let them bring the besom hither; it may be of use," said Vathek, who was
still employed, not having quite racked off his wine.

"How!" said Bababalouk, half aloud and amazed.

"Obey," replied the Caliph, "for it is my sovereign will; go instantly,
vanish; for here will I receive the good folk, who have thus filled thee
with joy."

The eunuch departed muttering, and bade the venerable train attend him.
A sacred rapture was diffused amongst these reverend old men. Though
fatigued with the length of their expedition, they followed Bababalouk
with an alertness almost miraculous, and felt themselves highly
flattered, as they swept along the stately porticoes, that the Caliph
would not receive them like ambassadors in ordinary in his hall of
audience. Soon reaching the interior of the harem (where, through blinds
of Persian, they perceived large soft eyes, dark and blue, that went and
came like lightning), penetrated with respect and wonder, and full of
their celestial mission, they advanced in procession towards the small
corridors that appeared to terminate in nothing, but nevertheless led to
the cell where the Caliph expected their coming.

"What! is the Commander of the Faithful sick?" said Ebn Edris al Shafei
in a low voice to his companion.

"I rather think he is in his oratory," answered Al Mouhadethin.

Vathek, who heard the dialogue, cried out: "What imports it you how I am
employed? approach without delay."

They advanced, and Bababalouk almost sunk with confusion, whilst the
Caliph, without showing himself, put forth his hand from behind the
tapestry that hung before the door, and demanded of them the besom.
Having prostrated themselves as well as the corridor would permit, and
even in a tolerable semicircle, the venerable Al Shafei, drawing forth
the besom from the embroidered and perfumed scarves in which it had been
enveloped, and secured from the profane gaze of vulgar eyes, arose from
his associates, and advanced, with an air of the most awful solemnity,
towards the supposed oratory; but with what astonishment! with what
horror was he seized! Vathek, bursting out into a villainous laugh,
snatched the besom from his trembling hand, and, fixing upon some cobwebs
that hung suspended from the ceiling, gravely brushed away till not a
single one remained. The old men, overpowered with amazement, were
unable to lift their heards from the