HAY—I greet your Excellency with rapture.
ALI FEROUSH BEY—May your wives be as the leaves of the forest.
H.—May it please your Excellency, the President says that if your
august master finds it inconvenient to pay that little account he need
not hurry.
A. F. B.—Allah forbid that the Light of the Universe should hurry about
anything!
H.—The matter will keep, and an ultimatum delivered about the first
week in November would——
A. F. B.—May jackasses sing on your grandmother’s grave! Do you think
you can use the Brother of the Prophet to further your cursed election
schemes? I shall advise that the bill be paid at once.
H.—Exalted sir, I fear you are pleased to talk through your turban.
But I pray that you will permit me to withdraw. I must acquaint the
President with your answer.
[_Exit Hay._]
A. F. B.—The devil go with him! If I had him in Stamboul he’d be
walking on wood!