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18 who protest against all modern inventions—one of those men who still prefer a coach (when they find one) to the railroad, and a sailing vessel to a steamer. During the twenty years I have known Kéraban, I have never known him to change ever so little. When, three years ago, he came to visit me in Rotterdam, he arrived in a post-chaise, and instead of eight days he had been quite a month on the journey. I have known a good many obstinate people in my time, Bruno, but of all, Kéraban is the most ‘pig-headed’ person I ever met."

"He will be considerably astonished to meet you again in Constantinople," said the valet.

"I fancy so," replied Van Mitten, "and I would rather take him by surprise. At least in his company we shall be thoroughly the Turk. My friend Kéraban is not the man to adopt the costume of the Nizam, and to wear the blue coat and red fez of the modern 'believer.'"

"When they take off their fezzes they look like bottles with the corks out," remarked Bruno.

"Ah, my dear and inimitable Kéraban will come dressed just as he was when he visited me at the other side of Europe; he will have his turban and caftan on—"

"Just like a date merchant," interrupted Bruno.

"Yes, like a date merchant who sells golden fruit, and who might even eat them at every meal," replied Van Mitten. "He has the very business for this country—a merchant in tobacco. How could he fail to make his fortune in such a business in this place, where every one smokes, morning, noon and night?"

"Smoke!" exclaimed Bruno. "Where have you seen any one smoke? I have not seen any smokers at all—not one, yet I quite expected to find groups of Turks at every door smoking long curling pipes or tubts of cherry with amber mouthpieces. But, no! Not even a cigarette, much less a cigar!"

"There is something we do not understand, depend upon it, Bruno. Why, even in Rotterdam we shall find more smokers than in the streets of Constantinople."

"Are you quite sure that we have not mistaken the route and gone somewhere else?" continued Bruno. "Are you certain that we are in the Turkish capital, sir? Perhaps