Inside the Hall of the Dewan, they were courteously greeted by the wizened-faccd Grand Vizier, and several other Ministers. Then everyone present took places cross-legged on the cushioned divans with which the room was furnished. Before each place there stood a hookah with, attached to it, a long tube with an ivory mouthpiece, by which die smoke could be drawn through a glass vase filled with rose water. Roger at once took up his mouthpiece and drew in a breath of fragrant smoke; his compatriots followed his example and the Turks, too, began smoking.
While compliments were exchanged, thick, sweet coffee was served in small cups inserted in gold holders. When the white eunuchs who acted as waiters had withdrawn, the business in hand was gradually approached. High up on one side of the room there was a grille that jutted out slightly, screening a small balcony. Behind it, from time to time, slight movements could be seen and Roger had learned that, concealed in this indoor gazebo, the Sultan listened to all debates of importance held by his chief Ministers.
It was, therefore, no surprise to him that, after nearly three hours of beating about the bush, the Grand Vizier said that he and his colleagues must consult further in private—his real meaning being that he must ask the wishes of his master.
Next day Roger again went to the Palace in disguise. This time he was kept waiting for nearly an hour before Aimee received him; but when she did she explained that she had been detained because she had been in consultation with Selim's Kadins about certain new regulations governing the conduct of the ordinary women of the harem.
Their talk happened to turn to French literature, upon which she took him through to another room which was a library. He was amazed to see that it contained hundreds of beautifully-bound volumes imported by her from France. Among them were many works on botany, natural history and philosophy, including those of the Encyclopaedists. He had realised that she was well read, but not that she was so learned.
Like her boudoir, the decor of the room was Louis Seize, but with one exception. In the middle of one wall there was a huge, brick, open fireplace. Seeing him look at it, she said:
'Alas, they would not allow me to do away with that hideous chimney. This building is very old, and they said that if they attempted to take it out the roof covering the whole of my apartments would fall in.'
A little later he asked her about the state of the Janissaries and she replied, 'They are a constant anxiety to us. Every time now that Selim leaves the Palace for any length of time they become mutinous and, although Ibraham Pasha is a good, honest man, he has not the strength of will to control them. Selim, too, lacks the ruthlessness to reduce them to obedience once and for all. Occasionally he has a few of them thrown into prison, but generally appeases them with concessions. Prince Mustapha and his mother are, of course, prisoners in the fine pavilion that we term "the cage"; but I haven't a doubt that they are in secret communication with the Janissaries' leaders and inciting them to make trouble for us. In previous reigns that evil woman and her son would long since have been strangled. But Selim is too kind-hearted. Perhaps my influence on him is to blame for that. Yet, as long as they live, our own lives will not be safe.'
It was Fatima who suggested that her mistress should invite Roger to a small, private supper party she was giving on the coming Thursday. After a moment's hesitation, Aimee said:
'Yes. Why not? At times General Sebastiani used to join us, and His Majesty thinks well of M. le Chevalier. So, too, does my son, and it will make a pleasant change for us to have a visitor in our family circle.' She then told Roger to come to the Palace at eight o'clock.
Roger spent Wednesday with three of his brother officers and their Turkish attendants, exploring parts of the city they had not so far seen. As infidels, they were naturally debarred from entering any of the magnificent mosques; but they strolled round the great oblong stadium where, in Byzantine times, the chariot races had been held; descended underground to see the vast, many-columned cistern that Constantine the Great had constructed to supply his people with water during the times of siege, and roamed for an hour or two along the inside of the miles-long battlemented wall.
On the Thursday evening, when Roger was conducted through the Second Court of the Palace, he saw by the lingering twilight that many of the Janissaries were sitting about in little groups, quietly smoking their narghiles or talking earnestly in low tones; but none of them took any notice of him.
In Aimee's apartment he found Selim, Mahmoud and Fatima. They were already drinking the champagne of which they were so fond and, when he had made his salaams, Fatima poured him a glass. The Sultan then began to speak of the Dewan that had been held the previous Thursday and told Roger frankly that he was still undecided what course to take. Russia was Turkey's hereditary enemy and, moreover, he would have liked to give his ally, the Emperor Napoleon, such help as he could. But to find troops for an offensive while several of his own provinces were in rebellion presented a difficult problem.
'Sire,' Roger replied. 'I am a loyal servant of the Emperor, but since you have honoured me with your friendship, I cannot forbear to quote the old saying, "A wise man puts out the fire in his own house before he goes to assist his neighbour in putting out the fire in his."'
Aimee nodded her golden head. 'That is sound advice. But we are not here to talk statecraft. Let us put such matters out of our minds for a while and enjoy ourselves. Tell His Majesty, as you told me the other day, how, when you were a young man in St. Petersburg and that old rouee, Catherine the Great, took a fancy to you, you succeeded in avoiding going to bed with her.'
Roger told the story and they laughed a lot. Encouraged by them, he told others of tight comers out of which he had managed to wriggle. About nine o'clock, Yussif appeared and announced that, if it pleased His Majesty, dinner could be served. Then they adjourned to another room. As was the case throughout the whole of Aimee's apartments, there were no divans here, but a fine, satinwood table set with Sevres china, lace mats from Malines, and Venetian glass. The chairs were of tulip wood, and their seats flower designs in petit point worked, as she told Roger, by herself.
The meal, too, showed no trace of Turkish influence and it was clear that Aimee's personal chef was well versed in the French cookery books for which she had sent. As Roger drank with each course in turn Montrachet Chambertin and a rich Sauterne, he thought how blessed this Oriental potentate was to be able to retire from his burdensome duties of State to these utterly different surroundings, created by a French lady of superb beauty and indomitable will.
A richly-crusted souffle was about to be served when sounds of commotion came from the next room. A moment later the door burst open and Son Altesse Noire came staggering in to them. His face was grey, his eyes bulging. Without ceremony he cried:
'Majesty! We are lost! The Janissaries are in revolt. They have freed Prince Mustapha and his mother from the cage. Even now they are proclaiming the Prince as Sultan. They will be here at any moment. This means death to us all.'
Everyone at the table sprang to their feet. The eunuch who had been about to hand round the souffle dropped it and fled. Selim remained outwardly calm, but his voice was hoarse as he said: