d peaceful.
The _objects de vertu_ which littered the small tables, and the
scrolls which hung from the walls, did little to relieve the sombre
effect of those high ceilings and carved wood frescoes. Yet there was
a little air of distinction and refinement which showed that an
immeasurable gulf separated the favoured dwellers of this Palace from
even the greatest outside. Even here Royalty does more than oblige; it
compels....

With the eunuchs protesting more and more vigorously, and seeking to
stay our advance by a curious mixture of suggestion and imploring and
resistance which is a quality of the East, we slowly passed through
apartment after apartment. Some now were furnished with luxurious long
divans which eloquently invited graceful repose. What scenes had not
this silent furniture witnessed, and how little could the makers have
supposed, as they cunningly carved and stained and coloured, that
barbarians from Europe would be one day insolently gazing on their
handiwork!...

I had lagged somewhat behind, when some curses and imprecations
dragged my wandering attention to the doors beyond. Two eunuchs had
fallen on their knees and were now kowtowing and begging with renewed
vigour, while a third was standing more resolutely than his fellows
with outstretched arms, imperatively forbidding any further advance.
The most interesting point had been reached; this must be the greatest
thing of all.

But these eunuchs were beginning to fatigue us with their airs of duly
authorised custodians who could do as they pleased, and going up, we
now told them that unless they went quickly away we would kill them
then and there. We all drew our revolvers, stood over them, and waited
a minute of two. Then, as if they had acted their parts right up to
the end, the men on their knees got up suddenly, shook themselves,
bowed to us politely without a trace of feeling, and left....
"_Enfin,"_ said K----.

At last we were in this dear Empress's bedroom, the abode which
shelters for such a considerable number of hours of every twenty-four
the most powerful woman in Asia. We looked eagerly. At one side of the
room was a large bed, beautifully adorned with embroidered hangings;
ranged round there was a profusion of handsome carved-wood furniture,
with European chairs upholstered in a style out of keeping with the
rest; on a high stand there were jewelled clocks noisily ticking; and
hidden modestly in one corner was nothing less than a