Arab countries -- Fiction; Fantasy fiction; Gothic fiction; Middle East -- Fiction
“This Giaour, it must be confessed, is somewhat sanguinary in his taste,
but the terrestrial powers are always terrible: nevertheless, what the
one has promised and the others can confer, will prove a sufficient
indemnification. No crimes should be thought too dear for such a reward.
Forbear then to revile the Indian: you have not fulfilled the conditions
to which his services are annexed. For instance, is not a sacrifice to
the subterranean Genii required? and should we not be prepared to offer
it as soon as the tumult is subsided? This charge I will take on myself,
and have no doubt of succeeding by means of your treasures; which, as
there are now so many others in store, may without fear be exhausted.”
Accordingly, the Princess, who possessed the most consummate skill in the
art of persuasion, went immediately back through the subterranean
passage, and presenting herself to the populace from a window of the
palace, began to harangue them with all the address of which she was
mistress, whilst Bababalouk showered money from both hands amongst the
crowd, who by these united means were soon appeased. Every person
retired to his home, and Carathis returned to the tower.
Prayer at break of day was announced, when Carathis and Vathek ascended
the steps which led to the summit of the tower, where they remained for
some time, though the weather was lowering and wet. This impending gloom
corresponded with their malignant dispositions; but when the sun began to
break through the clouds, they ordered a pavilion to be raised as a
screen from the intrusion of his beams. The Caliph, overcome with
fatigue, sought refreshment from repose, at the same time hoping that
significant dreams might attend on his slumbers; whilst the indefatigable
Carathis, followed by a party of her mutes, descended to prepare whatever
she judged proper for the oblation of the approaching night.
By secret stairs, known only to herself and her son, she first repaired
to the mysterious recesses in which were deposited the mummies that had
been brought from the catacombs of the ancient Pharaohs. Of these she
ordered several to be taken. From thence she resorted to a gallery,
where, under the guard of fifty female negroes, mute, and blind of the
right eye, were preserved the oil of the most venomous serpents,
rhinoceros’ horns, and woods of a subtle and penetrating odour, procured
from the interior of the Indies, together with a thousand other horrible
rarieties. This collection had been formed for a purpose like the
present, by Carathis herself, from a presentiment that she might one day
enjoy some intercourse with the infernal powers, to whom she had ever
been passionately attached, and to whose taste she was no stranger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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