nder the same orders
and in exactly the same way. It was only a well-rehearsed comedy.
K----, who is really a bit of a coward, did not appear to relish the
comments made, and now became suddenly reluctant. He told me
afterwards that he had overheard the men saying that we might be
killed inside, as there were many people there. So in silence we all
marched on.

The first gate we reached was a beautiful example of the art of this
Northern country. There were splendid pillars of teak, marble tigers
and marble fretwork beneath, with much glittering colouring around. A
strong post of Russian infantry was on guard here, and sitting inside
the enclosure with the men off duty were a number of Palace eunuchs.
They all seemed quite intimate together and were chaffing one
another--soldiers and eunuchs laughing heartily at some coarse jest.

We wended our way through a marble courtyard, which wore a rather
deserted and forlorn look, and which had huge low-lying halls and
dwellings for the Palace servants ranged on either side. These
appeared to be all deserted now, but at regular intervals were Russian
sentries standing up on lookout platforms. They were peering over the
walls in every direction, and seemed to be keeping a very sharp
lookout. The officer said that many guards of other nationalities were
well within rifle-shot from here, and that men were continually trying
to steal their way right into the inner Palace by scaling the walls.
He called them robbers!

The next gate was much smaller, and showed from its very appearance
that we were nearing the actual Palaces--the hidden, mysterious abodes
of the Tartar rulers who had so ignominiously fled. Here the sentries
had the strictest orders, for, stopping us short with their lowered
bayonet points, they looked askance at us, and politely asked the
officer who we were and why we had ventured here. In the end, to set
their minds at ease, he had to tear a leaf from his pocket-book, write
an order, and make us sign our names. Upon this, the non-commissioned
officer in charge of this post detached himself and joined our little
party. We were not going to be allowed in alone, and imperceptibly the
affair assumed a graver and more consequential aspect. Then, quietly
advancing, we four were speedily lost in the huge maze of gardens and
buildings. The area covered by the Palaces was enormous.

Beyond this was a succession of high, picturesque-looking buildings of
a curious Persian