I know that he will pass
the time away in the garden of the royal grove. I know even the bower in
which he hath wooed and won the fair princess. Let us call these mutes,
explain to them what we wish, and by to-morrow's sun the throne of
Souffraria will fall to the race of Mezrimbi. Are we not of the purest
blood of the plains, and is not Acota but a rayah of the mountains?"
And the chief Brahmin was pleased with his son's proposal; the mutes
were summoned, the black, tongueless, everythingless, hideous creatures,
bowed in their humility, and followed their master, who, with the chief
Brahmin, ventured by a circuitous route to invade the precincts of the
royal grove. Slowly and cautiously did they proceed towards the bower,
where, as Mezrimbi had truly said, Acota was waiting for his beloved
princess. Fortunately, as they approached, a disturbed snake, hissing in
his anger, caused an exclamation from the old Brahmin, which aroused
Acota from his delicious reverie. Through the foliage he perceived and
recognised Mezrimbi, his father, and the mutes. Convinced that they
meditated mischief towards himself, he secreted himself among the
rose-bushes, lying prostrate on the ground; but in his haste, he left
his cloak and mandolin. Mezrimbi entered the bower, and explained to the
mutes by signs what it was which he desired, showed them the cloak and
mandolin to make known the object of his wrath, and put into their hands
the bottle of corrosive acid. They satisfied him that they comprehended
his wishes, and the party then retired, the chief Brahmin quitting the
grove for his own house, the mutes lying in wait under some bushes for
the arrival of Acota, and Mezrimbi walking away into the recesses of the
grove, anxious as to the issue of the plot.
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