Pulling a twisted cord that hung beside it, the heavy, regal folds parted in twain with noiseless regularity, and displayed an octagon room, so exquisitely designed and ornamented that I gazed upon it as upon some rare and beautiful picture.

It was unoccupied, and my young escort placed a chair for me near the central window, informing me as he did so that "Monsieur le Comte" would be with me instantly; whereupon he departed.
Left alone, I gazed in bewilderment at the loveliness round me.

The walls and ceiling were painted in fresco.

I could not make out the subjects, but I could see faces of surpassing beauty smiling from clouds, and peering between stars and crescents.

The furniture appeared to be of very ancient Arabian design; each chair was a perfect masterpiece of wood-carving, picked out and inlaid with gold.