Only a civilization deep and wide and old and strong could produce this far-walled, many-gabled roof of kings.
To no audience-hall were we sea-cunies led, but, as we took it, to a feasting-hall.

The feasting was at its end, and all the throng was in a merry mood.

And such a throng! High dignitaries, princes of the blood, sworded nobles, pale priests, weather-tanned officers of high command, court ladies with faces exposed, painted _ki-sang_ or dancing girls who rested from entertaining, and duennas, waiting women, eunuchs, lackeys, and palace slaves a myriad of them.
All fell away from us, however, when the Emperor, with a following of intimates, advanced to look us over.

He was a merry monarch, especially so for an Asiatic.

Not more than forty, with a clear, pallid skin that had never known the sun, he was paunched and weak-legged.