persuing his enquiries, by at once removing his jealousy; which she supposed would be at an end, as soon as she should disclose the resolution she had taken in his favour.  Addressing him, therefore, as Almoran, with a voice which though it was gentle and soothing, was yet mournful and tremulous; ’Do not turn from me,’ said she, with those unfriendly and frowning looks; give me now that love which so lately you offered, and with all the future I will atone the past.’

Upon Hamet, whose heart involuntarily answered to the voice of Almeida, these words had irresistible and instantaneous force; but recollecting, in a moment, whose form he bore, and to whom they were addressed, they struck him with new astonishment, and increased the torments of his mind.  Supposing what he at first feared had happened, and that Almoran had seduced her as Hamet; he could not account for her now addressing him, as Almoran, with words of favour and compliance:  he, therefore, renewed his enquiries concerning himself, with apprehensions of a different kind.  She, who was still solicitous to put an end to the enquiry, as well for the sake of Hamet, as to prevent her own embarrassment, replied with a sigh, ’Let not thy peace be interrupted by one thought of Hamet; for of Hamet Almeida shall think no more.’  Hamet, who, though he had fortified himself against whatever might have happened to her person, could not bear the alienation of her mind, cried our, with looks of distraction and a voice scarcely human, ’Not think of Hamet!’ Almeida, whose astonishment was every moment increasing, replied, with a tender and interesting enquiry, ’Is Almoran then offended, that Almeida mould think of Hamet no more?’ Hamet, being thus addressed by the name of his brother, again recollected his situation; and now first conceived the idea, that the alteration of ALMEIDA’S sentiments with respect to himself, might be the effect of some violence offered her by Almoran in his likeness; he, therefore, recurred to his first purpose, and determined, by a direct enquiry, to discover whether she had seen him under that appearance.  This enquiry he urged with the utmost solemnity and ardour, in terms suitable to his present appearance and situation:  ‘Tell me,’ said he, ’have these doors been open to Hamet?  Has he obtained possession of that treasure, which, by the voice of Heaven, has been allotted to me?’

To this double question, Almeida answered by a single negative; and her answer, therefore, was both false and true:  it was true that her person was still inviolate, and it was true also that Hamet had not been admitted to her; yet her denial of it was false, for she believed the contrary; Almoran only had been admitted, but she had received him as his brother.  Hamet, however, was satisfied with the answer, and did not discover its fallacy.