The Sultan and His Subjects - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII A NtNETEENTH CENTURY GRAND VIZIR Down in Norfolk, in my grandfather's old house, there was a certain room hung with red damask, and known as "the best chamber." In it there stood a big oak bookcase, full of venerable tomes, the latest of them printed somewhere about the first decade of this century. Younger by some years than either of my brothers, I, who now survive them both, was a lonely child, who knew no greater delight in life than to steal into this room, full of rich crimson shadows, and pervaded by that air of mystery which ever lingers about a rarely entered chamber. To pull down a volume of the "Arabian Nights" and sit reading it in the ruddy twilight which filtered through the closely-drawn curtains, cast over me a charm the memory of which, even now, thrills me with delight. Perched on an old-fashioned arm-chair in the guest-chamber, I made my first acquaintance with the two dearest friends of my dreamy boyhood, Haroun-alRaschid and the Grand Vizir. Imagine then, my reader, if indeed you can, with what feelings of excitement, near akin to awe (even after so many long years of commonplace existence), I received a communication from my friend Gigi, to the effect that a long-promised interview between myself and a genuine Grand Vizir had been arranged for the following afternoon. Visions of the big red room at home haunted me all that night, and I dreamt some hours away, wandering with the glorious old Khaliph, and his boon companions, Jaafar, the Vizir, and Mesrour, the "executioner of high deeds," through the streets and bazaars of Baghdad, or dallying in the marble halls, and enchanted palaces, those worthies were wont to frequent. I was childish enough to count the hours which should bring me face to face with that friend of m...