Hasan Agha was, it seemed, a famous fighter; and the men did all they could to make him tell me of his battles.

They brought an old man in out of the town to see me because he had fought in the Crimean war, and knew the English.

Before it grew too hot, they took me out to see the barracks and a ramshackle old fieldpiece which they seemed to idolise.

Then followed luncheon with its long array of Arab dishes, of which the soldiers had their share eventually.

Rashid assured me afterwards that all the food on this occasion had been 'borrowed.' That was in Abdul Hamid's golden days.
After luncheon, there was coffee with more compliments; and then at last we got to business.
A public writer was brought in.