"
At these menaces Nouronihar indignantly raised her head, opened on Shaban
her black eyes, which, since the important dialogue of the enchanted
grot, were considerably enlarged, and said: "Go, speak thus to slaves,
but learn to reverence her who is born to give laws, and subject all to
her power."
She was proceeding in the same style, but was interrupted by a sudden
exclamation of "The Caliph! The Caliph!" The curtains at once were
thrown open, and the slaves prostrate in double rows, whilst poor little
Gulchenrouz hid himself beneath the elevation of a sofa. At first
appeared a file of black eunuchs, trailing after them long trains of
muslin embroidered with gold, and holding in their hands censers, which
dispensed as they passed the grateful perfume of the wood of aloes; next
marched Bababalouk with a solemn strut, and tossing his head as not over-
pleased at the visit; Vathek came close after, superbly robed; his gait
was unembarrassed and noble, and his presence would have engaged
admiration, though he had not been the sovereign of the world; he
approached Nouronihar with a throbbing heart, and seemed enraptured at
the full effulgence of her radiant eyes, of which he had before caught
but a few glimpses; but she instantly depressed them, and her confusion
augmented her beauty.
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