despair: 'Your state,' said he, 'indeed is distressful, but not
hopeless.' The king who, though addressed as, HAMET, was still betrayed
by his confusion to answer as ALMORAN, smote his breast, and replied in
an agony, 'It is hopeless!' Osmyn remarked his emotion and despair,
with, a concern and astonishment that ALMORAN observed, and at once
recollected his situation. He endeavoured to retract such expressions of
trouble and despondency, as did not suit the character he hid assumed;
and telling Osmyn that he thanked him for his friendship; and would
improve the advantages it offered him, he directed him to acquaint the
eunuchs that they were to admit him to ALMEIDA. When he was left alone;
his doubts and perplexity held him long in suspense; a thousand
expedients occurred to his mind by turns, and by turns were rejected.

His first thought was to put Osmyn to death: but he considered; that by
this he would gain no advantage, as he would be in equal danger from
whoever should succeed him: he considered also, that against Osmyn he
was upon his guard; and that he might at any time learn, from him,
whatever design might be formed in favour of HAMET, by assuming HAMET'S
appearance: that he would thus be the confident of every secret, in
which his own safety was concerned; and might disconcert the best
contrived project at the very moment of its execution, when it would be
too late for other measures to be taken: he determined, therefore, to
let Osmyn live; at least, till it became more necessary to cut him off.
Having in some degree soothed and fortified his mind by these
reflections, he entered the apartment of ALMEIDA.

His hope was not founded upon a design to marry her under the appearance
of HAMET; for that would be impossible, as the ceremony must have been
performed by the priests who supposed the marriage with HAMET to have
been forbidden by a divine command; and who, therefore, would not have