And gradually its splendour began to enfold him.

The Arabian tales which his father loved to tell him contained marvels and splendours, but nothing to be compared with the magnificence and brilliance that now assailed his senses.

Marble staircases as broad as streets, halls as lofty as temples, marble pillars, brilliantly painted domes.

The sun came through the windows in every colour there is, and was reflected red, blue, green, and gold by the shining walls.

But more fairy-like were the nights, when thousands of lamps burned in the halls, a forest of candelabra shone like a conflagration kept within bounds; when the courtiers seemed to sink into the carpets and divans and silken and down coverlets; when the sweet-smelling incense rose from the golden censers and intoxicated the brain; when a hundred servants made ready the banquet of indescribable luxury, and carried it in silver dishes, alabaster bowls, and crystal goblets; when youths and maidens, with arms entwined, crowned each other with wreaths of roses; when the fanfares sounded, and the cymbals clashed, and song gushed from maidens' throats; and when at length Pharaoh entered in flowing purple robes adorned with a thousand sparkling diamond stars--on his head an indented coronet, shining like carbuncle--the god! the sun-god! On all this our boy from the Nile hut looked as at something wonderful that had nothing to do with him.