my ruin? This must be cared for. I must see her ere I proceed a step farther. If she has the power to destroy me, and with it the will to do so, she must die. I have almost forgotten her falsehood. I hate to think upon it; still more should I grieve to visit her with vengeance, even though just, since it has been thus long delayed. But why should I hesitate, when the lives of others, and those innocent, are perilled by her treachery

During this while, Abassa had been a silent spectatress of her husband's agitation. Now and then she answered his self-addressed inquiries as though they had been made to her, and at times put some question to the prince which he noticed not, neither replied to. Turning to her now, he said, " Thou must keep within thine own apartment. Think not if I have been blind that others will be so. The eyes of anger and suspicion are sharper than those of love. Thou mayst conceal this yet for a time; meanwhile a way may offer to escape the fate which now threatens us. There is yet a remedy for our fears, perchance; or if all should fail, I will throw myself upon the calif's mercy, though small chance were that in truth for safety. Retire now, my life. Refuse to see even thy father should he visit thee. Deny him upon the plea of sickness. Betake thyself to thy chamber, and if need be, to thy couch. In truth," he added, pressing his lips to her colourless cheek, "thy face is wan and pale. 'Tis a hard lot for thee to struggle thus with forYet hope still-still be thyself."

tune.

"Wilt thou not soon return ?" said Abassa, embracing him tenderly, as he turned to leave her. "I shall do naught but weep while thou art away."

"I will not be long absent," was the reply. "I will see the slave Khatoun, and learn from her the extent of her knowledge and of her treachery. Then will I decide her fate, and the path which I myself must pursue. Farewell! may Heaven shield thee!" Having again affectionately embraced the princess, Giafar departed.

The

A few words may be necessary to explain more clearly the fears and the purpose of the prince. He was well aware that the situation in which the body of Hassan had been found was, of itself, sufficient to indicate the intention with which he had stolen into that secret retreat; and the punishment which he had suffered seemed to have overtaken him suddenly, in a place ill fitted for a deed of blood, and to all appearance while he was busied in watching the private hours of his master. purpose of the culprit and of his destroyer seemed equally evident-that of the one to discover, and of the other to conceal the secrets of that retired kiosk. Besides this, the silence which had been observed respecting the death of the slave, would be additional evidence to him who discovered and removed the body, that such was the offence for which he had been thus summarily punished. In one way, however, and in one alone, could these appearances be accounted for, which threatened so much the safety of the prince. There was a crime

so irritating in its nature, so galling to the pride and hasty jealousy of a Moslem, that it might well excuse both rashness and secrecy in the punishment of the offender. Upon the evidence which he had of such a one, Khatoun had been imprisoned, and for such, was it the intention of Giafar to declare that Hassan had suffered; and to defend the care with which he had concealed his death, by the plea that pride had led him to throw a veil over the dishonour of his harem. But Giafar was well aware, that his mere assertion would avail but little with the calif, and would contribute in no degree to remove his suspicions, unless enforced by evidence clear and conclusive in its character. For this purpose it would be necessary to produce the faithless Khatoun, and obtain from her an acknowledgment of her own guilt and that of her accomplice. But in taking this step it was to be feared that, irritated by her imprisonment, and through the hope of gaining the favour of his master, Khatoun would accuse him to the calif of the very fault which he was so desirous to conceal. In his present visit to her, then, his purpose was two fold-one, to discover if she had succeeded in her espial upon his actions, and possessed the power as well as the will to betray him; the other, to induce her, by promise of pardon, to assert, in the presence of the calif, the guilt of Hassan, and to confess her own. If she were ignorant of his secret, or, knowing, would not reveal it, her life, though justly forfeited by her falsehood, should be spared. But

should he gather, either from her words or demeanour, that his danger would be increased by her appearance before the calif, it was Giafar's intention to put her to death forthwith; for which course, to his jealous and proud spirit there needed

no excuse.

The interview which he sought was a task that he ill liked. He burned with indignation at the bare thoughts of her offence, and he felt that to see and question her of her guilt would be a severe trial of his temper. It was, however, necessary for his safety that he should do this; and arming his bosom with double patience, he proceeded, with a heavy and unwilling step, towards her solitary prison.

CHAPTER VI.

Oh, couldst thou but know,

With what a deep devotedness of wo
I wept thy absence-o'er and o'er again

Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop, that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away.

Lalla Rookh.

BUT where was she, the sensitive, the sad one? where was the unfortunate Khatoun? Grief was not sparing her--misfortune and care were doing their utmost to shatter and destroy her health and happiness; and love—he that can dull the sharpest edge of calamity—had spread his wings and flown from her. Deserted by one whom she had deeply loved, she strove in vain to wean her affections from his memory. She remembered the fond looks, the burning words, and the dear caresses which he had lavished upon her; they were blessings for which she had never hoped ; but when once they had been hers, when she had known their charm, they had become essential to her happiness

-a very part and portion of it. She thought upon their loss, and her bosom was deluged with sorrow. But the inconstancy of Giafar, although the heaviest, was not the only blow which had fallen upon