at has she become," said he, addressing himself to
Chamsada, "whose prudence, wisdom, and love were the glory of my Court
and the pattern of wives? How has this mirror of perfection been
tarnished in a moment! How has she become my shame after having been
my true honour, and a subject of reproach to the world after having
been its admiration! How, alas! have appearances deceived me!
Henceforward, every woman shall be dishonoured in my eyes, from past
and present to all future generations."

Having said this, the King went out, his soul struggling betwixt love
and jealousy, fury and grief.

Chamsada was astonished at the reproaches she had just heard, and
tormented by the false suspicions to which her husband, whom she
loved, was abandoned. But how could she remove them? She had always
confirmed to the Sultan the false report of her son's death
intentionally spread by her father Selimansha, and she could not
venture to discover him at present without exposing him to the utmost
danger. Alas! when one has so long wandered from truth, is it possible
to return? Could one regain confidence who has not known how to
deserve it by a sincere and timely confession?

"No, no," would she say, "it was my inclination, and, without doubt,
my duty, to spare the reputation of my uncle, and to-day I would in
vain attempt to sully it. O Sovereign Wisdom! Divine Goodness! only
resource of the innocent, to Thee I lift my hands and my heart. By
invisible means you formerly snatched my unfortunate son from the
snares of death with which he was on all sides surrounded. He falls
into them still, notwithstanding his innocence. The fatality of his
star draws along with him my faithful slave and myself, and even the
Sultan my husband, who is weighed down by the too well-founded
presumption of our crime. Deliver us, O Allah, from the horrors of
suspicion! And thou, great Prophet! if thou bearest in thy heart thy
faithful followers--if all thy prayers in their behalf are heard--make
mine ascend before the God of Justice! And since all the wisdom of the
world could not untie the fatal knot in which we are bound, be pleased
to employ in this work thy omnipotent power."

After this invocation, she placed her confidence in Allah, and waited
the event with resignation.

In the meantime the irresolute soul of the Sultan was abandoned to the
greatest uncertainty. His passion for Chamsada seemed to acquire new
strength in proportion as he attempted to