n to emit.

They assembled before a sarcophagus of white marble, where Carathis was
seated between the bodies of her miserable guides; the princess received
her visitants with distinguished politeness, and, when supper was ended,
proceeded with them to business. Having soon learnt from them everything
she wished to discover, it was her intention to set forward forthwith on
her journey, but her negresses, who were forming tender connections with
the Gouls, importuned her with all their fingers to wait at least till
the dawn. Carathis, however, being chastity in the abstract, and an
implacable enemy to love and repose, at once rejected their prayer,
mounted Alboufaki, and commanded them to take their seats in a moment;
four days and four nights she continued her route, without turning to the
right hand or left; on the fifth she traversed the mountains and
half-burnt forests, and arrived on the sixth before the beautiful screens
which concealed from all eyes the voluptuous wanderings of her son.

It was daybreak, and the guards were snoring on their posts in careless
security, when the rough trot of Alboufaki awoke them in consternation.
Imagining that a group of spectres ascended from the abyss was
approaching, they all without ceremony took to their heels. Vathek was
at that instant with Nouronihar in the bath, hearing tales, and laughing
at Bababalouk, who related them; but no sooner did the outcry of his
guards reach him, than he flounced from the water like a carp, and as
soon threw himself back at the sight of Carathis, who, advancing with her
negresses upon Alboufaki, broke through the muslin awnings and veils of
the pavilion; at this sudden apparition Nouronihar (for she was not at
all times free from remorse) fancied that the moment of celestial
vengeance was come, and clung about the Caliph in amorous despondence.

Carathis, still seated on her camel, foamed with indignation at the
spectacle which obtruded itself on her chaste view; she thundered forth
without check or mercy: "Thou double-headed and four-legged monster! what
means all this winding and writhing? art thou not ashamed to be seen
grasping this limber sapling, in preference to the sceptre of the
pre-adamite Sultans? is it then for this paltry doxy that thou hast
violated the conditions in the parchment of our Giaour? is it on her thou
hast lavished thy precious moments? is this the fruit of the knowledge I
have taught thee? is this the end of thy