le to lure me on a step further. Indeed I made no
resistance, for I had always heard that a prince or sultan, in such
cases, must never ask whether there is any danger. Had I not my sword
by my side, and could I not soon get the better of the old man if he
took a hostile position? I therefore walked in with confidence, and
the porter shut the gate so softly that I could hardly hear the sound.
He then showed the work on the inside, which was certainly much
superior to that without, and explained it, giving indications of the
greatest kindness towards me. My mind being completely set at rest I
allowed myself to be led further along the shady space by the wall
which circled the garden, and found much to admire. Niches,
artificially adorned with shells, coral, and pieces of ore, poured from
Tritons' mouths copious streams of water into marble basins. Between
them were aviaries and other pieces of lattice-work, in which there
were squirrels hopping about, guinea-pigs running backwards and
forwards, and, in short, all the pretty little creatures that one could
desire. The birds cried and sung to us as we went along; the
starlings, in particular, prated after us the most absurd stuff, one
always calling out "Paris, Paris," and the other "Narcissus,
Narcissus," as plain as any schoolboy. The old man seemed to look at
me more seriously whenever the birds uttered this, but I pretended not
to mind it, and indeed had no time to attend to him, for I could
clearly perceive that we were walking round and that this shady place
was in fact a large circle, which inclosed another of far more
importance. We had again come to the little door, and it seemed to me
as if the old man wished to dismiss me; but my eyes remained fixed on a
golden railing which seemed to inclose the middle of this wonderful
garden, and which in my walk I had found an opportunity of observing
sufficiently, although the old man always contrived to keep me close to
the wall, and, therefore, pretty far from the centre. As he was going
up to the gate I said to him, with a bow: "You have been so exceedingly
civil to me that I can venture to make another request before I leave
you. May I not look closer at that golden railing, which seems to
encircle the inner part of the garden?" "Certainly," said he, "but
then you must submit to certain conditions." "In what do they
consist?" I asked, quickly. "You must leave your hat and sword here,
and must not quit my ha