Дни грёз

           LeavingSelinaandHaroldtosettletheirfeudbyamutualdisinheritance,Islippedfromtheroomandescapedintotheopenair,eagertopickupthelooseendofmynewfriendshipjustwhereIhaddroppeditthatmorning.Inthegloriousreactionofthesunshineafterthedownpour,withitsmoistwarmsmells,bespanglementofgreenery,andinspiritingtouchofrain-washedair,theparksandpalacesoftheimaginationglowedwithalivelieriris,andtheirblurredbeautiesshoneoutagainwithfreshblushandpalpitation.AsIspedalongtothetryst,againIaccompaniedmynewcomradealongthecorridorsofmypetpalaceintowhichIhadsohastilyintroducedher;andonreflectionIbegantoseethatitwouldn’tworkproperly.Ihadmadeamistake,andthosewerenotthesurroundingsinwhichshewasmostfittedtoshine.However,itreallydidnotmattermuch;Ihadotherpalacestoplaceatherdisposal—plentyof’em;andonafurtheracquaintancewithandknowledgeofhertastes,nodoubtIcouldfindsomethingtosuither.

           TherewasarealArabianone,forinstance,whichIvisitedbutrarely—onlyjustwhenIwasinthefineOrientalmoodforit;awonderofsilkhangings,fountainsofrosewater,pavilions,andminarets.Hundredsofsilent,well-trainedslavesthrongedthestairsandalleysofthisestablishment,readytofetchandcarryforherallday,ifshewishedit;andmybravesoldierswouldbesparedtheindignity.Alsotherewereprocessionsthroughthebazaaratoddmoments—processionswithcamels,elephants,andpalanquins.