58 



AMRA. 



( Continued from page 18.J 



But all these professions were hollow and insidious. Akbar was 

 not a character to be thus baffled ; and assisted by the wily wit of 

 Abul Fazil, and the bold intriguing monk, he had devised a secret 

 and subtle expedient, which should at once gratify his curiosity, and 

 avenge his insulted power. 



Abul Fazil had an only brother, many years younger than himself, 

 whom he adopted as his son, and loved with extreme tenderness. 

 He had intended him to tread, like himself, the intricate path of state 

 policy; and with this view he had been carefully educated in all the 

 learning of the East, and made the most astonishing progress in 

 every branch of science. Though scarcely past his boyhood, he had 

 already been initiated into the intrigues of the court; above all, he 

 had been brought up in sentiments of the most profound veneration 

 and submission for the monarch he was destined to serve. In some 

 respects Faizi resembled his brother : he possessed the same versa- 

 tility of talents, the same acuteness of mind, the same predilection 

 for literary and sedentary pursuits, the same insinuating melody of 

 voice and fluent grace of speech ; but his ambition was of a nobler 

 cast, and though his moral perceptions had been somewhat blunted 

 by a too early acquaintance with court diplomacy, and an effeminate, 

 though learned education, his mind and talents were decidedly of a 

 higher order. He also excelled Abul Fazil in the graces of his per- 

 son, having inherited from his mother (a Georgian slave of surpassing 

 loveliness) a figure of exquisite grace and symmetry, and features of 

 the most faultless and noble beauty. 



Thus fitted by nature and prepared by art for the part he was to 

 perform, this youth was secretly sent to Allahabad, where the depu- 

 ties of the Brahmans rested for some days on their return to the 

 Sacred City. Here Abul Fazil, with great appearance of mystery 

 and circumspection, introduced himself to the chief priest, Sarma, 

 and presented to him his youthful brother as the orphan son of the 

 Brahman Mitra, a celebrated teacher of astronomy in the court of 

 the late sultan. Abul Fazii had artfully prepared such documents 

 as left no doubt of the truth of his story. His pupil in treachery 

 played his part to admiration, and the deception was complete and 

 successful. 



" It was the will of the Great King," said the wily Abul Fazil, 

 " that this fair youth should be brought up in his palace, and con- 

 verted to the Moslem faith ; but bound by my vows to a dying friend, 



