ne times--and
a dream descended on me in my sleep, and I was told that the conditions
of the will would be fulfilled. How to explain this answer from above I
know not: perhaps the youth who was fortunate in discovering the flower
is also the youth of the princess's choice.

"Even so," replied the princess, in a soft melodious voice, "and
therefore is my father's will obeyed."

"Where, then, is the fortunate youth?" said the chief brahmin; "let him
appear."

Babe-bi-bobu, who, as well as others, had in vain looked round for
Acota, was astonished at his not making his appearance, and still more
so when he did, as they thought, appear, led in by the four black mutes,
with his face enveloped in a shawl.

"This, then," said the chief brahmin, "is the favoured youth, Acota.
Remove the shawl, and lead him to the princess."

The mutes obeyed, and to the horror of Babe-bi-bobu, there stood Acota,
as she thought, with a face so scarred and burnt, that his features were
not distinguishable. She started from her throne, uttered one wild
shriek, which was said to have been heard by the whole ten square miles
of population, and fainted in the arms of her attendants.

"We know his dress, most noble grandees," continued the chief brahmin,
"but how can we recognise in that object, the youth without scar or
blemish? It is the will of Heaven," continued the chief brahmin,
piously and reverently bending low. And all the other grandees replied
in the same pious manner, "It is the will of Heaven."

"I say," continued the chief brahmin, "that this must have been
occasioned by the princess not having chosen as ordained by the will of
her father, but having impiously left to chance what was to have been
decided by free will. Is not the hand, the finger of Providence made
manifest?" continued he, appealing to the grandees. And they all bowed
low, and declared that the hand and finger of Providence were manifest;
while the mutes, who knew that it was their hands and fingers which had
done the deed, chuckled as well as they could with the remnants of their
tongues. "And now," continued the chief brahmin, "we must obey the will
of the late king, which expressly states, that if any accident should
happen after the choice of the princess had been made, that I, the chief
of our holy religion, should select her husband. By virtue, then, of my
power, I call thee forth, my son, Mezrimbi, to take his place. Bow down
to Mezrimbi, the futur