Sultan's notice, afterwards to be relegated to
the consideration of his wazeers. This time no fuss was made, and the
affair again came off in the early morning, for His Majesty rose at
three, and after devotions and study transacted official business from
five to nine, then breakfasting and reserving the rest of the day for
recreation and further religious study.

II. THE INTERVIEW

At the appointed time an escort waited on the Ambassador[18] to convey
him to the palace, arrived at which he was led into one of the many
gardens in the interior, full of luxuriant semi-wild vegetation. In
a room opening on to one side of the garden sat the Emperor,
tailor-fashion, on a European sofa, elevated by a sort of dais
opposite the door. With the exception of an armchair on the lower
level, to which the Ambassador was motioned after the usual formal
obeisances and expressions of respect, the chamber was absolutely bare
of furniture, though not lacking in beauty of decoration. The floor
was of plain cut but elegant tiles, and the dado was a more intricate
pattern of the same in shades of blue, green, and yellow, interspersed
with black, but relieved by an abundance of greeny white. Above this,
to the stalactite cornice, the walls were decorated with intricate
Mauresque designs in carved white plaster, while the rich stalactite
roofing of deep-red tone, just tipped with purple and gilt, made a
perfect whole, and gave a feeling of repose to the design. Through the
huge open horse-shoe arch of the door the light streamed between the
branches of graceful creepers waving in the breeze, adding to the
impression of coolness caused by the bubbling fountain outside.

[18: Strictly speaking, only "Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy Extraordinary."]

"May God bless our Lord, and prolong his days!" said Ayush, bowing
profoundly towards the Sultan, as the Minister concluded the
repetition of his stock phrases, and seated himself.

"May it please Your Majesty," began the Minister, in Greek, "I cannot
express the honour I feel in again being commissioned to approach Your
Majesty in the capacity of Ambassador from my Sovereign, King Otho of
Greece."

This little speech was rendered into Arabic by Ayush to this effect--

"May God pour blessings on our Lord. The Ambassador rejoices greatly,
and is honoured above measure in being sent once more by his king to
approach the presence of our Lord, the high and mighty Sovereign: yes,