"What! is the Commander of the Faithful sick?" said Ebn Edris al Shafei
in a low voice to his companion.
"I rather think he is in his oratory," answered Al Mouhadethin.
Vathek, who heard the dialogue, cried out: "What imports it you how I am
employed? approach without delay."
They advanced, and Bababalouk almost sunk with confusion, whilst the
Caliph, without showing himself, put forth his hand from behind the
tapestry that hung before the door, and demanded of them the besom.
Having prostrated themselves as well as the corridor would permit, and
even in a tolerable semicircle, the venerable Al Shafei, drawing forth
the besom from the embroidered and perfumed scarves in which it had been
enveloped, and secured from the profane gaze of vulgar eyes, arose from
his associates, and advanced, with an air of the most awful solemnity,
towards the supposed oratory; but with what astonishment! with what
horror was he seized! Vathek, bursting out into a villainous laugh,
snatched the besom from his trembling hand, and, fixing upon some cobwebs
that hung suspended from the ceiling, gravely brushed away till not a
single one remained.
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