This was very small, and, like all such courts, had no
roof, so that a pleasant gleam of sunshine flickered through the
creepers which twined up its pillars and gleamed on the drops that fell
from a tinkling fountain in the centre.

Entering an open doorway on the right of the court, the interpreter led
the way up a flight of marble steps to the second storey of the house.
A small gallery, such as one sees in public libraries in England, ran
round the four sides of the building over the balustrade, of which one
could look down on the leafy court with its ever singing _jet d'eau_.
The windows of the several private, apartments opened upon this gallery.

In the centre of one side of the square was a large open doorway, in the
form of a Moorish arch, by which entrance was obtained into a little
extremely ornate apartment. The dome-shaped roof of this boudoir was
lighted by four little holes filled with stained-glass, and the walls
were covered with beautifully painted tiles. Rich ornaments of various
Eastern and fanciful kinds were strewn about, and valuable Persian rugs
covered the marble floor.

On an ottoman, in the centre of all, sat Rais Ali's bride, cross-legged,
and on a cushion before her lay the cat, her only companion.

She was clothed in garments of the richest description, which glittered
with gold embroidery and jewels. Seated thus, stroking the cat, and
with a self-satisfied smile on her fat pretty face, she seemed the very
personification of contentment. Her soft brown neck was almost hidden
with rows of pearls, and long rows of the same jewels depended from the
high filigree cap which towered above her head. Her dress consisted of
three open jackets or short caftans, one above the other, without
sleeves. These were profusely garnished with gold lace, and fastened
only at the waist. White linen trousers or drawers covered her limbs to
the ankles, but these were so immensely wide as to bear more resemblance
to female drapery than to the masculine appendages which their name
suggests. A silken, gold-striped shawl was fastened by two corners
round her waist, and hung down in front like an apron. Sleeves of fine
embroidered muslin and of great width covered her arms. Her little feet
and ankles were bare, but the latter were ornamented with several thick
gold leglets. In each ear she wore five large round ear-rings, two of
these fitting into two holes in the lower, and three into the upper part
of