Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/224

208 "The view from the terrace was grand and beautiful, particularly because of the brilliant sunset in the mountains. The possessions of Sidi Abia seemed to stretch out as far as one could see, and the old gentleman looked on them with delight, as he sat smoking a very long pipe and inhaling his tea.

"After having taken a grateful leave of our hosts, we searched out our carriage and drove off to a dinner which Madame Halmagrand told me had been arranged in honor of my husband, who had been compelled to remain ingloriously at home to nurse his fever. Again the twisted streets, the odors, dirt and darkness, then a palace breathing luxury, though not so striking as that of Sidi Abia. The drawing-room was not very large and was lighted by means of big kerosene-lamps placed on the floor. At the back of the room I was at first surprised to see an alcove containing two metal bedsteads piled with cushions that reached to the ceiling until I learned that these beds and cushions were never used but were kept there simply to display the wealth of the household. Also there were many mirrors of very ordinary workmanship and some Louis XV chairs—all quite out of keeping with the daintiness and good taste of the Arab interior decorations but quite the fashion and consequently de rigeur for the well-to-do.

"Our host, an old cadi, proved to be very nice, even though all his complimentary remarks had to come to us through a translator. His son, who was very good-looking and who was dressed in a beautiful national Arab costume of ancient times, played the part of host for his father, though he also spoke no French. The other guests