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most resolute at length accomplished their purpose； having gained the
staircase by their violent exertions； they attained a great height in a quarter
of an hour。
Carathis； alarmed at the signs of her mutes； advanced to the staircase；
went down a few steps； and heard several voices calling out from below：
〃You shall in a moment have water！〃 Being rather alert； considering her
age； she presently regained the top of the tower； and bade her son suspend
the sacrifice for some minutes； adding： 〃We shall soon be enabled to
render it more grateful； certain dolts of your subjects； imagining no doubt
that we were on fire； have been rash enough to break through those doors
which had hitherto remained inviolate； for the sake of bringing up water；
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they are very kind； you must allow； so soon to forget the wrongs you have
done them； but that is of little moment。 Let us offer them to the Giaour；
let them come up； our mutes； who neither want strength nor experience；
will soon despatch them； exhausted as they are with fatigue。〃
〃Be it so；〃 answered the Caliph； 〃provided we finish and I dine。〃
In fact； these good people； out of breath from ascending eleven
thousand stairs in such haste； and chagrined at having spilt by the way the
water they had taken； were no sooner arrived at the top than the blaze of
the flames and the fumes of the mummies at once overpowered their
senses。 It was a pity； for they beheld not the agreeable smile with which
the mutes and the negresses adjusted the cord to their necks； these amiable
personages rejoiced； however； no less at the scene； never before had the
ceremony of strangling been performed with so much facility； they all fell
without the least resistance or struggle； so that Vathek in the space of a
few moments found himself surrounded by the dead bodies of his
faithfullest subjects； all which were thrown on the top of the pile。
Carathis； whose presence of mind never forsook her； perceiving that
she had carcases sufficient to complete her oblation； commanded the
chains to be stretched across the staircase； and the iron doors barricaded；
that no more might come up。
No sooner were these orders obeyed than the tower shook； the dead
bodies vanished in the flames； which at once changed from a swarthy
crimson to a bright rose colour； an ambient vapour emitted the most
exquisite fragrance； the marble columns rang with harmonious sounds；
and the liquefied horns diffused a delicious perfume。 Carathis； in
transports； anticipated the success of her enterprise； whilst her mutes and
negresses； to whom these sweets had given the colic； retired to their cells
grumbling。
Scarcely were they gone when； instead of the pile； horns； mummies；
and ashes； the Caliph both saw and felt； with a degree of pleasure which
he could not express； a table covered with the most magnificent repast；
flagons of wine and vases of exquisite sherbet floating on snow。 He
availed himself without scruple of such an entertainment and had already
laid hands on a lamb stuffed with pistachios； whilst Carathis was privately
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drawing from a filigree urn a parchment that seemed to be endless； and
which had escaped the notice of her son； totally occupied in gratifying an
importunate appetite he left her to peruse it without interruption； which；
having finished； she said to him in an authoritative tone； 〃Put an end to
your gluttony； and hear the splendid promises with which you are
favoured！〃 She then read as follows： 〃Vathek； my well…beloved； thou
hast surpassed my hopes； my nostrils have been regaled by the savour of
thy mummies； thy horns； and still more by the lives devoted on the pile。
At the full of the moon cause the bands of thy musicians and thy tymbals
to be heard； depart from thy palace surrounded by all the pageants of
majesty； thy most faithful slaves； thy best beloved wives； thy most
magnificent litters； thy richest leaden camels； and set forward on thy way
to Istakhar； there await I thy coming； that is the region of wonders； there
shalt thou receive the diadem of Gian Ben Gian； the talismans of Soliman；
and the treasures of the Preadamite Sultans； there shalt thou be solaced
with all kinds of delight。 But beware how thou enterest any dwelling on
thy route； or thou shalt feel the effects of my anger。〃
The Caliph； who； notwithstanding his habitual luxury； had never
before dined with so much satisfaction； gave full scope to the joy of these
golden tidings； and betook himself to drinking anew。 Carathis； whose
antipathy to wine was by no means insuperable； failed not to supply a
reason for every bumper； which they ironically quaffed to the health of
Mahomet。 This infernal liquor completed their impious temerity； and
prompted them to utter a profusion of blasphemies； they gave a loose to
their wit at the expense of the ass of Balaam； the dog of the seven sleepers；
and the other animals admitted into the paradise of Mahomet。 In this
sprightly humour they descended the eleven thousand stairs； diverting
themselves as they went at the anxious faces they saw on the square
through the oilets of the tower； and at length arrived at the royal
apartments by the subterranean passage。 Bababalouk was parading to
and fro； and issuing his mandates with great pomp to the eunuchs； who
were snuffing the lights and painting the eyes of the Circassians。 No
sooner did he catch sight of the Caliph and his mother than he exclaimed；
〃Hah！ you have then； I perceive； escaped from the flames； I was not；
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however； altogether out of doubt。〃
〃Of what moment is it to us what you thought； or think？〃 cried
Carathis； 〃go； speed； tell Morakanabad that we immediately want him； and
take care how you stop by the way to make your insipid reflections。〃
Morakanabad delayed not to obey the summons； and was received by
Vathek and his mother with great solemnity； they told him； with an air of
composure and commiseration； that the fire at the top of the tower was
extinguished； but that it had cost the lives of the brave people who sought
to assist them。
〃Still more misfortunes；〃 cried Morakanabad； with a sigh。 〃Ah；
Commander of the Faithful； our holy Prophet is certainly irritated against
us！ it behoves you to appease him。〃
〃We will appease him hereafter！〃 replied the Caliph； with a smile that
augured nothing of good。 〃You will have leisure sufficient for your
supplications during my absence； for this country is the bane of my health；
I am disgusted with the mountain of the Four Fountains； and am resolved
to go and drink of the stream of Rocnabad； I long to refresh myself in the
delightful valleys which it waters。 Do you； with the advice of my mother；
govern my dominions； and take care to supply whatever her experiments
may demand； for you well know that our tower abounds in materials for
the advancement of science。〃
The tower but ill suited Morakanabad's taste。 Immense treasures had
been lavished upon it； and nothing had he ever seen carried thither but
female negroes； mutes； and abominable drugs。 Nor did he know well
what to think of Carathis； who； like a chameleon； could assume all
possible colours； her cursed eloquence had often driven the poor
Mussulman to his last shifts。 He considered； however； that if she
possessed but few good qualities； her son had still fewer； and that the
alternative