The conditions under which the present Sultan lived during the
tyranny of his half-brother were once brought home to the present writer in a very pointed manner. While riding on the outskirts of Constantinople he saw a cavalry escort preceding a very smart victoria with gold furniture on the harness of the showy horses. Inside the carriage, and alone, was a middle- aged man, bent forward, with a hunted look in his eyes, and a listless arm hanging over the carriage aproit for the weather had been showery. Behind the carriage were two or three disreputable-looking men on shaggy ponies. "That," said the dragoman, "j Resluad Effendi, the Sultan's half-brother." "Who were the rough-looking Irma on ponies who closed up round the carriage directly we came near P" " They are the spies. They are always specially afraid that he may hold some communication with a European. He never knows whether he will sleep in his own palace, as every now and then when the Sultan ie particularly suspicious he makes him come to Tildiz, sometimes for several weeks together."
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