“I am free,” said Shums-ood-Deen, “to marry whom I will; he has no right to control me in that which essentially regards my domestic happiness. I have resolved to choose for myself, and only await your consent to make me happy.”
“Prince, it will not appear flattery to say that I honour your liberal sentiments—that is a matter of course. If you can secure my child’s consent, you have mine upon one condition, that I obtain my freedom; for it would ill become the dignity of Shums-ood-Deen to be the son-in-law of a slave.”
“This I promise. Your freedom is a boon which the king will scarcely fail to grant to a brother’s supplication. Your daughter would be cheaply purchased at the price of an empire.”
The wily father saw that the greatest advantage was to be drawn from the boyish enthusiasm of Shums-ood-Deen; and his hopes of casting back upon the king the odium which he had made to fall so heavily upon his bond-servant, rose rapidly to their meridian as he listened to the declarations of attachment towards his daughter from the lips of his master’s brother. He sought his child, and prepared her for the visit of Shums-ood-Deen, at the same time relating to her his earnest professions of honourable attachment. She received the communication with undisguised pleasure, for she had beheld the prince with more than common satisfaction. His youthful beauty, untainted by the habitual exercise of gross passion, had made a favourable impression upon her; and she felt gratified by the undisguised expression of delight which passed over his glowing countenance the moment he beheld her.
“Now, my child,” said the father, “you have made a flattering conquest. It is no common thing to find a prince entertaining honourable intentions towards those looked upon by the world as excluded from all society but the lowest: appreciate this as it deserves.”
“I shall, my father; but withal, flattering as such approbation is, it may prove the mere effervescence of passion in a youthful bosom, that will pass away with the occasion. At all events, be assured I shall never give my consent to a union with any man upon whom I have not first bestowed my heart.”
With this understanding Lallcheen prepared to introduce the prince, who had declared his intention of visiting her father’s house that evening.
The lovers met in Agha’s apartments, and were mutually charmed with each other.
CHAPTER II.
Although a slave, Lallcheen was possessed of considerable wealth, and his house would not have disgraced the dignity of a nobleman. On the day Gheias-ood-Deen had seen his slave’s daughter, he summoned the father to his presence.