rnish me with the habit of a slave."

"The habit," answered Bennaskar, "is ready, and all is ready; but you
must not as yet disguise yourself, lest my slaves observe us. Come,
let us for the present enjoy ourselves, and, when night approaches,
Bennaskar will rely on the friendship of Mahoud."

The slaves then brought us the costly viands of Delhi; but Bennaskar
remained pensive, and seemed not to relish the dainties before him.

I endeavoured all I could to divert his melancholy; I smiled, I sang
before him; the dancers were introduced with music to dissipate his
gloom; but Bennaskar still remained mute. The music continued till
night, when Bennaskar commanded the slaves to withdraw, and, taking a
lamp in his hand, led me through several apartments.

"Mahoud," said he, as we went along, "has never yet seen the wonders
of my palace."

"I am happy, my lord," answered I, "to see your wealth; but I am not
inquisitive to explore, unbidden, the secrets of another."

We had now arrived at a small vaulted room, from the centre of which
hung a lamp, which Bennaskar trimmed, putting out the one he held in
his hand.

"Now," said he, "Mahoud, enter that closet which is opposite to us,
and put on the slave's dress which you will find there, and anoint thy
face and hands with this black ointment."

I immediately obeyed, and in a short time came forth arrayed as a
slave.

"Kind Mahoud," said Bennaskar, "thou art excellently disguised; now
obey with silence, and stand as a mute before his lord."

I folded my arms and nodded assent, at which he smiled.

"Take hold, Mahoud," said he, "of that iron ring which is fastened to
the middle of the floor, and pull."

I obeyed, and a little trap-door opened. On looking down, I perceived
a woman in rich vestments, half buried in the earth. I shuddered at
the sight, and was falling backward, when Bennaskar struck me with a
chabouc,[6] which he drew from his bosom, and said, "Villain, if thou
fail me, I shall use thee as my slave."

[Footnote 6: A large whip.]

Although enraged at the blow, yet I remembered my promise, and
returned to the trap-door.

"Slave," said Bennaskar, "dig that female out of the ground: the spade
and the mattock are hidden under the floor."

I immediately jumped down, found the tools, and began to work; but
neither my fear nor my labour could prevent me from fixing my eyes on
the lovely female, who seemed as one dead.

As soon as I had removed the earth