Gulchenrouz died with me, and we were both brought into
a region of desolation, where we are fed with a wretched diet. If you be
dead also, and are come hither to join us, I pity your lot; for you will
be stunned with the noise of the dwarfs and the storks; besides, it is
mortifying in the extreme that you, as well as myself, should have lost
the treasures of the subterranean palace."
At the mention of the subterranean palace the Caliph suspended his
caresses, to seek from Nouronihar an explanation of her meaning. She
then recapitulated her vision, what immediately followed, and the history
of her pretended death, adding also a description of the place of
expiation from whence she had fled, and all in a manner that would have
extorted his laughter, had not the thoughts of Vathek been too deeply
engaged. No sooner, however, had she ended, than he again clasped her to
his bosom, and said:
"Light of my eyes! the mystery is unravelled; we both are alive! your
father is a cheat, who, for the sake of dividing, hath deluded us both;
and the Giaour, whose design, as far as I can discover, is that we shall
proceed together, seems scarce a whit better; it shall be some time at
least before he find us in his palace of fire.
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