第3章

In the Ottoman dominions there is scarcely any hereditary influence except that which belongs to the family of the Sultan, and wealth, too, is a highly volatile blessing, not easily transmitted to the descendant of the owner. From these causes it results that the people standing in the place of nobles and gentry are official personages, and though many (indeed the greater number) of these potentates are humbly born and bred, you will seldom, I think, find them wanting in that polished smoothness of manner, and those well-undulating tones which belong to the best Osmanlees. The truth is, that most of the men in authority have risen from their humble station by the arts of the courtier, and they preserve in their high estate those gentle powers of fascination to which they owe their success. Yet unless you can contrive to learn a little of the language, you will be rather bored by your visits of ceremony; the intervention of the interpreter, or dragoman as he is called, is fatal to the spirit of conversation. I think I should mislead you if I were to attempt to give the substance of any particular conversation with Orientals. A traveller may write and say that "the Pasha of So-and-so was particularly interested in the vast progress which has been made in the application of steam, and appeared to understand the structure of our machinery - that he remarked upon the gigantic results of our manufacturing industry - showed that he possessed considerable knowledge of our Indian affairs, and of the constitution of the Company, and expressed a lively admiration of the many sterling qualities for which the people of England are distinguished."But the heap of commonplaces thus quietly attributed to the Pasha will have been founded perhaps on some such talking as this:-PASHA. - The Englishman is welcome; most blessed among hours is this, the hour of his coming.

DRAGOMAN (to the traveller). - The Pasha pays you his compliments.

TRAVELLER. - Give him my best compliments in return, and say I'm delighted to have the honour of seeing him.

DRAGOMAN (to the Pasha). - His lordship, this Englishman, Lord of London, Scorner of Ireland, Suppressor of France, has quitted his governments, and left his enemies to breathe for a moment, and has crossed the broad waters in strict disguise, with a small but eternally faithful retinue of followers, in order that he might look upon the bright countenance of the Pasha among Pashas - the Pasha of the everlasting Pashalik of Karagholookoldour.

TRAVELLER (to his dragoman). - What on earth have you been saying about London? The Pasha will be taking me for a mere cockney. Have not I told you ALWAYS to say that I am from a branch of the family of Mudcombe Park, and that I am to be a magistrate for the county of Bedfordshire, only I've not qualified, and that I should have been a deputy-lieutenant if it had not been for the extraordinary conduct of Lord Mountpromise, and that I was a candidate for Goldborough at the last election, and that I should have won easy if my committee had not been bought. I wish to Heaven that if you DO say anything about me, you'd tell the simple truth.

DRAGOMAN [is silent].

PASHA. - What says the friendly Lord of London? is there aught that I can grant him within the Pashalik of Karagholookoldour?

DRAGOMAN (growing, sulky and literal). - This friendly Englishman - this branch of Mudcombe - this head-purveyor of Goldborough - this possible policeman of Bedfordshire, is recounting his achievements, and the number of his titles.

PASHA. - The end of his honours is more distant than the ends of the earth, and the catalogue of his glorious deeds is brighter than the firmament of heaven!

DRAGOMAN (to the traveller). - The Pasha congratulates your Excellency.

TRAVELLER. - About Goldborough? The deuce he does! - but Iwant to get at his views in relation to the present state of the Ottoman Empire. Tell him the Houses of Parliament have met, and that there has been a speech from the throne, pledging England to preserve the integrity of the Sultan's dominions.

DRAGOMAN (to the Pasha). - This branch of Mudcombe, this possible policeman of Bedfordshire, informs your Highness that in England the talking houses have met, and that the integrity of the Sultan's dominions has been assured for ever and ever by a speech from the velvet chair.

PASHA. - Wonderful chair! Wonderful houses! - whirr! whirr! all by wheels! - whiz! whiz! all by steam! - wonderful chair! wonderful houses! wonderful people! - whirr! whirr! all by wheels! - whiz! whiz! all by steam!

TRAVELLER (to the dragoman). - What does the Pasha mean by that whizzing? he does not mean to say, does he, that our Government will ever abandon their pledges to the Sultan?