It is only where tribe wars on tribe, religion on religion, or their quarrels stop the traffic on the Sultan's highway that we intervene.

What would you have, mon ami?
We are here in Asia!' With these words, and a smile of quite ineffable indulgence for my young illusions, his Excellency bowed me out.
In the ante-room Suleyman drew close to my left ear and whispered sharply: 'Give me four mejidis.' 'Whatever for ?' I asked in deep amazement.
'That I will tell you afterwards.

The need is instant.' I produced the four mejidis from a trouser-pocket, and, receiving them, he went back to the door by which the usher stood, and whispered to the man, who went inside a moment and came back with the private secretary of the Caimmacam.

The compliments which passed between them seemed to me interminable.
I paced the pavement of the waiting-room, the only figure in the crowd whose attitude bespoke impatience.

The others sat or squatted round the walls in perfect resignation, some of them smoking, others munching nuts of various kinds, of which the shells began to hide the floor adjacent to them.