nded for smoking, and
from that into one which was set apart for my meals, as a very
English-looking breakfast was spread, and a couple of white-robed
servants stood waiting to receive my orders.

My first move was in each case to the windows, to find that my
apartments were in a corner of the court, and that all looked out on the
goldfish-tank, but of course in different directions. But there was no
tree near the walls big enough to be of use in an escape, and the tank,
though it looked deep enough, was too far distant for a dive.

"Will my lord have food?" said Salaman, humbly.

"Not yet. Wait," I replied; and I continued my inspection of my prison,
for such it was to me, admiring most of all the curtains, which were of
rich soft fabric, and Salaman smiled as he saw me pass them through my
hand.

"Beautiful!" I said to myself, and I felt in better spirits, for I saw
those curtains cut down, slit up, twisted and knotted together, with one
end secured to the side of a window ready for me to slide down the night
I made my escape.

"That's step the first," I said to myself; and then I looked hard at the
two servants standing with folded arms motionless as bronze statues.

They were, as I have said, dressed in white, and I saw now, as I
examined them more closely, that the stuff was white muslin, both robe
and turban, the latter being ornamented with a fine cord of gold twist.

They were not very different to scores of men of their class, such as I
had seen in good houses at Calcutta, or at the messes of the regiments
where I had dined, but they attracted me greatly now, and my eyes rested
searchingly on their brown faces, thick beards, bare legs, and feet
partly hidden by red slippers.

It was a neat, becoming dress, and I kept up my scrutiny, noting
everything, including, of course, the cummerbund or broad cotton scarf
or belt about the men's waists.

As for them, they did not even raise their eyes, but stood gazing down
at the floor while I made a mental picture of their appearance, and
oddly enough, I began thinking about walnuts, and wishing I had some.

A curious wish, you will say, for a prisoner who had only to give the
word, and a delicious breakfast would be placed before him, with curries
and fruits, and sweets with his coffee.

But I did not want any of them; I wanted walnuts.

Ah! you will say, and a pair of nutcrackers, and some salt into which I
could dip the ivory-white corrugated scraps wh