When he entered, his countenance expressed all the passions that his situation had roused in his mind.  He first looked sternly round him, to see whether Almoran was not present; and then fetching a deep sigh he turned his eyes, with a look of mournful tenderness, upon Almeida.  His first view was to discover, whether Almoran had already supplanted him; and for this purpose he collected the whole strength of his mind:  he considered that he appeared now, not as Hamet, but as Almoran; and that he was to question Almeida concerning Almoran, while she had mistaken him for Hamet; he was therefore to maintain the character, at whatever expence, till his doubts were resolved, and his fears either removed or confirmed:  he was so firmly persuaded, that Almoran had been there before him, that he did not ask the question, but supposed the fact; he restrained alike both his tenderness and his fears; and looking earnestly upon Almeida, who had risen up in his presence with blushes and confusion, ‘To me,’ says he, ’is Almeida still cold? and has she lavished all her love upon Hamet?’

At the name of Hamet, the blushes and confusion of Almeida increased:  her mind was still full of the images, which had risen from the thought of what Hamet might suffer, if Almoran should know that he had been with her; and though she feared that their interview was discovered, yet she hoped it might be only suspected, and in that case the removal or confirmation of the suspicions, on which the fate of Hamet depended, would devolve upon her.

In this situation, she, who a few moments before doubted, whether she should not voluntarily give him up, when nothing more was necessary for his safety than to be silent; now determined, with whatever reluctance, to secure him, though it could not he done without dissimulation, and though it was probable that in this dissimulation she would be detected.  Instead, therefore, of answering the question, she repeated it:  ’On whom said my lord, on Hamet?’ Hamet, whose suspicions were increased by the evasion, replied with great emotion, ’Aye, on Hamet; did he not this moment leave you?’ ‘Leave me this moment?’ said Almeida, with yet greater confusion, and deeper blushes.  Hamet, in the impatience of his jealousy, concluded, that the passions which he saw expressed in her countenance, and which arose from the struggle between her regard to truth and her tenderness for Hamet, proceeded from the consciousness of what he had most reason to dread, and she to conceal, a breach of virtue, to which she had been betrayed by his own appearance united with the vices of his brother:  he, therefore, drew back from her with a look of inexpressible anguish, and stood some time silent.  She observed, that in his countenance there was more expression of trouble, than rage; she, therefore, hoped to divert him from