ade to believe so, and that is all
that is sufficient. Allah does not interfere in the choice of any but
those who reign over true believers. The sultan is the Holy Prophet's
vicegerent on earth--and he, guided by the Prophet, invests virtue and
wisdom with the kalaats of dignity, in the persons of his pachas."

"Very true," said the pacha, "the sultan is guided by Allah, and,"
continued he in a low tone to Mustapha, "a few hundred purses to boot.
Menouni, you may proceed."

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Amidst the cries of "Long live Acota, Souffraria's legitimate king!"
Acota was led to the throne by the attendant grandees of the nation,
where he received the homage of all present. It was arranged by the
grandees and mollahs that the marriage should take place the next day.
The assembly broke up, and hastened in every direction to make
preparations for the expected ceremony.

But who can describe the jealousy, the envy, and the indignation which
swelled in the breasts of Mezrimbi and his father, the chief brahmin?
They met, they consulted, they planned, and they schemed. Acota was not
yet king, although he was proclaimed as such--he was not king until his
marriage with the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu, "the cream tart of
delight," and should he be scarred or blemished before the marriage of
the ensuing day, then must the brahmin, by the will of the old king,
choose his successor; and who could he choose but his own son?

"Father," said young Mezrimbi, his beautiful countenance distorted by
the vilest passions of Jehanum, "I have planned as follows:--I have
mutes ready to obey my wishes, and a corrosive burning acid, which will
eat deeply into the flesh of the proud Acota. I know that he will pass
the time away in the garden of the royal grove. I know even the bower
in which he hath wooed and won the fair princess. Let us call these
mutes, explain to them what we wish, and by to-morrow's sun the throne
of Souffraria will fall to the race of Mezrimbi. Are we not of the
purest blood of the plains, and is not Acota but a rayah of the
mountains?"

And the chief brahmin was pleased with his son's proposal; the mutes
were summoned, the black, tongueless, everythingless, hideous creatures,
bowed in their humility, and followed their master, who, with the chief
brahmin, ventured by a circuitous rout to invade the precincts of the
royal grove. Slowly and cautiously d