y practised by
the young ladies of our educated society.

The slipper being nearly dry, Kondje-Gul put it on her little arched
foot, with its famous light green silk stocking, and we recommenced our
course through the park. I will say nothing about a row we took in a
boat on the lake, with great willows on its banks. The swans and the
Mandarin ducks followed us in procession.

Mohammed, like a wise man, had foreseen that I should stay at the Kasre.
The dinner this time was served in the French style. He did not sit down
with us as he had done the day before; I had no longer need of him, and
he returned to the obscure position which he was henceforth to occupy
during my visits. I sat down to table, therefore, with my houris; and
this meal, in which everything was new to them, became a veritable
feast. They nibbled and tasted a bit of everything with exclamations of
surprise, with careful investigations, and with little gourmandish airs
of inexpressible charm. I should tell you that my cook only won their
unanimous approbation at dessert, when they commenced to make a sort of
second dinner of sweets and cakes, creams and fruit. The champagne
pleased them above all things, and would have ended by turning their
little heads, but for my careful attention. Whilst they vied with each
other in merriment and gay prattle, I was thinking of that oriental meal
of the night before in which I had seated myself by them in the reserved
attitude of a stranger. What a dream fulfilled! What fairy's wand had
produced this magical effect? I tell you it was a regular transformation
scene. At dessert Hadidje bent her head down to me with a mischievous
look, and laughed as she spoke some Turkish word.

"Sana yanarim!" I replied, emphasizing the sentence with a kiss on her
hand. I had learnt from Kondje-Gul that it means "I love you," or more
literally, "I am burning for you."

You may guess how successful this was, and with what shouts of joy it
was received. Of course there followed a little make-believe scene of
jealousy on the part of the others.

"Kianet! ah, Kianet!" they repeated, laughing, and threatening me with
uplifted fingers. This expression signifies "ungrateful."

When evening arrived I took them into the park to calm the warmth of
their emotions down a little. It was a splendid moonlight night, and the
long black shadows of the trees stretched over the walk. As we passed
these dark places the timid creatures pressed close