mistress would find another friend who might supply her place.

The Princess made them no answer; and they continued the form of
condolence, not much grieved in their hearts that the favourite was
lost.

Next day the Prince presented to the Bassa a memorial of the wrong
which he had suffered, and a petition for redress. The Bassa
threatened to punish the robbers, but did not attempt to catch
them; nor indeed could any account or description be given by which
he might direct the pursuit.

It soon appeared that nothing would be done by authority.
Governors being accustomed to hear of more crimes than they can
punish, and more wrongs than they can redress, set themselves at
ease by indiscriminate negligence, and presently forget the request
when they lose sight of the petitioner.

Imlac then endeavoured to gain some intelligence by private agents.
He found many who pretended to an exact knowledge of all the haunts
of the Arabs, and to regular correspondence with their chiefs, and
who readily undertook the recovery of Pekuah. Of these, some were
furnished with money for their journey, and came back no more; some
were liberally paid for accounts which a few days discovered to be
false. But the Princess would not suffer any means, however
improbable, to be left untried. While she was doing something, she
kept her hope alive. As one expedient failed, another was
suggested; when one messenger returned unsuccessful, another was
despatched to a different quarter.