What reports of the prince's conduct were made to the king, he
thought good to justify as far as possibly he could by his actions;
and when he appeared in the presence of the king, he showed a face not
at all betraying his heart: so that in a little time, the old man,
being entirely convinced that he was no longer a lover of Imoinda,
he carried him with him, in his train, to the otan, often to banquet
with his mistresses. But as soon as he entered, one day, into the
apartment of Imoinda, with the king, at the first glance from her
eyes, notwithstanding all his determined resolution, he was ready to
sink in the place where he stood; and had certainly done so but for
the support of Aboan, a young man who was next to him; which, with his
change of countenance, had betrayed him, had the king chanced to
look that way. And I have observed, 'tis a very great error in those
who laugh when one says, "A negro can change color": for I have seen
'em as frequently blush, and look pale, and that as visibly as ever
I saw in the most beautiful white. And 'tis certain that both these
changes were evident, this day, in both these lovers. And Imoinda, who
saw with some joy the change in the prince's face, and found it in her
own, strove to divert the king from beholding either, by a forced
caress, with which she met him; which was a new wound in the heart
of the poor dying prince. But as soon as the king was busied in
looking on some fine thing of Imoinda's making, she had time to tell
the prince, with her angry, but love-darting eyes, that she resented
his coldness, and bemoaned her own miserable captivity.
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