"
"I know, we met there for the first time, and you are the only
friend that has stood beside me faithfully since that day. The only
one, too, Hassan, in whom I confide, and may Allah grant that you
stand beside me through life!"
"Yes, may Allah grant that my enemies may never succeed in making
you distrust me. For this I know, I shall remain faithful to you
until death; and malice and calumny alone can succeed in alienating
from me my master's confidence."
"Hassan," said the viceroy, looking at him earnestly, "I do not
listen to calumny, and, whatever I hear, I do not believe it unless
I recognize it as truth. You will be often calumniated, my friend;
that I well know. But this I promise you: whatever evil is said of
you I will repeat to you, to enable you to justify yourself, and
then woe to those who have the temerity to calumniate you!"
The viceroy has shown the beautiful apartments of the citadel to his
friend Hassan, but the apartments in the palace of the Esbekieh he
shows to no one; through them he wanders alone. The saloons and
chambers are not yet finished; he carefully observes them as he
walks along, noting whether his instructions are being complied
with. Now he has entered the immense saloon, situated at the end of
the apartments of the harem. He locks the door behind him; here no
one must see him; to this sanctuary no human eye must follow him.
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