CHAP.  XVIII.

The officer who commanded the guard that kept the gate of the prison, was Caled.  He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn:  but as he had proposed a revolt to Hamet, in which Osmyn had refused to concur, he knew that his life was now in his power; he dreaded lest, for some slight offence, or in some fit of causeless displeasure, he should disclose the secret to Almoran, who would then certainly condemn him to death.  To secure this fatal secret, and put an end to his inquietude, he resolved, from the moment that Almoran was established upon the throne, to find some opportunity secretly to destroy Osmyn:  in this resolution, he was confirmed by the enmity, which inferior minds never fail to conceive against that merit, which they cannot but envy without spirit to emulate, and by which they feel themselves disgraced without an effort to acquire equal honour; it was confirmed also by the hope which Caled had conceived, that, upon the death of Osmyn, he should succeed to his post:  his apprehensions likewise were increased, by the gloom which he remarked in the countenance of Osmyn; and which not knowing that it arose from fear, he imputed to jealousy and malevolence.

When Almoran, who had now assumed the appearance of Osmyn, had passed the subterranean avenue to the dungeon in which Hamet was confined, he was met by Caled; of whom he demanded admittance to the prince, and produced his own signet, as a testimony that he came with the authority of the king.  As it was Caled’s interest to secure the favour of Osmyn till an opportunity should offer to cut him off, he received him with every possible mark of respect and reverence; and when he was gone into the dungeon, he commanded a beverage to be prepared for him against he should return, in which such spices were infused, as might expel the malignity which, in that place, might be received with the breath of life; and taking himself the key of the prison, he waited at the door.

When Almoran entered the dungeon, with a lamp which he had received from Caled, he found Hamet sitting upon the ground:  his countenance was impressed with the characters of grief; but it retained no marks either of anger or fear.  When he looked up, and saw the features of Osmyn, he judged that the mutes were behind him; and, therefore, rose up, to prepare himself for death.  Almoran beheld his calmness and fortitude with the involuntary praise of admiration; yet persisted in his purpose without remorse.  ‘I am come,’ said he, by the command of Almoran, to denounce that fate, the bitterness of which I will enable thee to avoid.’  ‘And what is there,’ said Hamet, ’in my fortunes, that has prompted thee to the danger of this attempt?’ ’The utmost that I can give thee,’ said Almoran, ’I can give thee without danger to myself:  but though I have been placed, by the hand of fortune, near the person