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Updated: May 6, 2025
"This afternoon, at the house of Karlsberger; forget not," Elias cried. "We have ordered a fine feast in thy friend's honour." "Fail us not, or it shall be the worse for thee," put in Yuhanna. Iskender swore obedience to their will and hurried on, mentally resolved to hire horses and take his Emîr for a ride until the evening.
A tear fell splash upon Iskender's drawing-book. The house of Karlsberger stood in a hollow of the southern sandhills, only discoverable on a close approach, so that the sight of its red roof, something like an extinguisher, came always as a surprise.
At that Elias rose with dignity and swaggering towards the Jew with a Frankish elegance which the depth of his potations made unsteady, seized the landlord by the breast of his gaberdine. He lifted an admonishing finger, saying: "You hold your row, Mr. Karlsberger. You go to Blazes, my fery good friend!" The Jew, who knew no English, accepted the assurance and retired.
All present flung back their heads and bawled in discord, producing a din so horrible that the Jew Karlsberger, with his wife and child, appeared from an inner room with scared white faces. "Merciful Allah, make less noise!" the Israelite besought the revellers. "If a Muslim were to hear you, I am ruined."
His lord was ushered to the seat of honour, a sofa covered with a fabric which had once been plush, but now resembled draggled sealskin; while Iskender went quite unnoticed till the wife of Karlsberger a bulky slattern, who kept shuffling in and out with plates and glasses perceived his need, and placed a stool for him.
As soon as he could gather money enough he had left agriculture to the dullards, and built this house near the town as a rendezvous for all who loved the flavour of depravity. For the dragomans and their kind the house of Karlsberger stood for the fashion and gay life of Europe. Thither Iskender conducted his lord in the manner of a reluctant follower rather than a guide.
Its owner was of the number of those Jewish immigrants who, lured by the offer of perpetual charity, had of late years come in their thousands to occupy lands provided by their rich co-religionists. But the life of a husbandman soon palled on Karlsberger, accustomed to trade upon the vices of a European city; and his wife, a former harlot, shared his disgust.
"He is good enough to treat me as a brother, and has sworn, of his benevolence, to make my fortune," Iskender modestly admitted. "Pshaw! Promises I know them!" sneered Yuhanna. "Coined money is the only thing I put my faith in." "We crave a boon of thee," pursued Elias coaxingly. "Bring the khawâjah to the house of Karlsberger to-morrow afternoon. We will make a feast in his honour and thine.
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