misfortune; for perhaps they would have killed their captives rather than have resigned them.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THEY RETURN TO CAIRO WITHOUT PEKUAH.

THERE was nothing to be hoped from longer stay. They returned to Cairo repenting of their curiosity, censuring the negligence of the government, lamenting their own rashness, which had neglected to procure a guard, imagining many expedients by which the loss of Pekuah might have been prevented, and resolving to do something for her recovery, though none could find any thing proper to be done.

Nekayah retired to her chamber, where her women attempted to comfort her, by telling her that all had their troubles, and that lady Pekuah had enjoyed much happiness in this world for a long time, and might reasonably expect a change of fortune. They hoped that some good would befall her wheresoever she and that their mistress would find another friend who might supply her place.

was,

The princess made them no answer, and they

nemi aurait tué ses captives plutôt que de les

rendre.

CHAPITRE XXXIV.

ILS RETOURNENT AU CAIRE SANS PÉKUAH.

On ne pouvait rien gagner à attendre. Ils reprirent donc le chemin du Caire, regrettant leur curiosité, condamnant la négligence du gouvernement, s'accusant eux-mêmes d'imprudence pour n'avoir pas pris d'escorte, songeant à tout ce qui aurait pu prévenir la perte de Pékuah, mais ne sachant quel moyen prendre pour la retrouver, quoique bien résolus à faire quelques tentatives à cet égard.

Nékayah se retira dans son appartement, où ses femmes cherchèrent à la consoler, en lui disant que chacun avait sa part de maux dans ce monde, et que Pékuah ayant été long-temps heureuse, devait raisonnablement s'attendre à quelque changement de fortune; que sans doute, en quelque lieu qu'elle fût, le sort lui deviendrait favorable, et qu'enfin leur maîtresse trouverait une autre amie pour la remplacer.

Nékayah ne répondant point, elles continuèrent

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 un

leurs consolations sur le même ton, peu affligées au fond de la perte de la favorite.

Le jour suivant, le prince présenta au pacha un mémoire sur cet événement, et demanda justice. Le pacha promit de punir les ravisseurs, mais ne prit aucune mesure pour les atteindre. Il n'avait à la vérité, d'indications assez précises pour diriger ses poursuites.

pas,

On reconnut bientôt qu'on n'obtiendrait rien de l'autorité. Les gouverneurs, habitués à voir plus de crimes qu'ils n'en pouvaient punir, plus de maux qu'ils n'en pouvaient réparer, se mettaient à leur aise en négligeant tout indistinctement, et aussitôt qu'un plaignant s'éloignait, ils oubliaient sa requête.

Imlac essaya d'obtenir quelques renseignemens par des agens particuliers. Il en trouva beaucoup qui prétendaient connaître parfaitement les retraites des Arabes, et même entretenir correspondance avec leurs chefs, et qui se chargèrent sans hésiter de découvrir Pékuah. Les uns reçurent de l'argent pour leur voyage et ne reparurent point, d'autres furent libéralement payés pour des renseignemens dont la fausseté fut reconnue au bout de quelques jours; mais la princesse ne voulait rejeter aucune voie, même douteuse. Par ces recherches elle tenait

tried. While she was doing something, she kept her hope alive. As one expedient failed, another was suggested; when one messenger returned unsuccessful, another was dispatched to a different quarter.

Two months had now passed, and of Pekuah nothing had been heard; the hopes which they had endeavoured to raise in each other grew more languid, and the princess, when she saw nothing more to be tried, sunk down inconsolable in hopeless dejection. A thousand times she reproached herself with the easy compliance by which she permitted her favourite to stay behind her. «< Had not my fondness, said she, lessened my authority, Pekuah had not dared to talk of her terrors. She ought to have feared me more than spectres. A severe look would have overpowered her: a peremptory command would have compelled obedience. Why did foolish indulgence prevail upon me? Why did I not speak, and refuse to hear?

Great princess, said Imlac, do not reproach yourself for your virtue, or consider that as blamable by which evil has accidentally been caused. Your tenderness for the timidity of Pekuah was generous and kind. When we act according to our duty, we commit the event to him by whose laws our actions are governed,