Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25

the emotion Of seeing my friend lail
from the sky as IL We're; ana on the
other his puzzling verbosity ana the IN
usual quantity of bitters l drank IN my
excitement unset me completely, ana sent
me TO bed without supper ana with
head like q volcano.
Notwithstanding. I kept my appoint
ment OF the following day. The iIlend-
shin | felt for Ernest, the curiosity 10
see what he had brought with him rom
India. and the Wanted skill Of his Nor
man cook In preparing tongue overcame
the fear that assailed me on iectihg
the eiddy and bewilderins "Orientallsm
that had taken possession OF me the pre-
yious afternoon.
The cottage NJ Neuilly was pretty ana
charming. with q short stairway, oriia-
mented with Towering plants.
| was received by the Indian servant
a sort OF Fharoan with cap IN the
form of q plate. pendants or pearls ana
brilliants I'm his ears tigerskin petit
coat or tunic. girded with a bright colored
sash: A thin, bony face, the color or
chocolate. and a pair OF eyes that sug-
postad the experienced strangler !
made him a profound obelsance-quite a
disinterested mark Of respect j may say,
because I knew very well that my friend
would never order him 10 try his silken
nose on my neck; but IL IS just
as we'll 10 make friends among people
OF all ranks, even though some OF them
may be strangers by profession!
Ernest had installed himself in his
new home with luxury and good taste;
ard. notwithstanding the wealth Of ORR
entail furniture. hangings, carpets, &C.,
that he possessed, he had not yielded to
the coarse temptation OF converting his
rooms into composite museums, filed
with a medley o. Arabic, Egyptian, and
Indian articles and curOsities as incom-
modious as they are pretentious.
The breakfast was splendid, truly gour-
met. retour de rinde French peas, leg
OF lamb. an abundance OF rice, la Va
lencia. saffron. roast and smoked fish In
the Oriental style. The beef tongue a
Ia Normandie was sufficient TO resurrect
Brillel Lavarin..
/ was able to endure with much greater
composure than on the previous day
he mood of anecdotes, paradoXes, and
eXtravagant theories OF my friend De-
shard who literally oyerfowed.
From the breakfast-room we passed TO
beautiful cabinet filed with curiosities
md objects of art. and there. in our
lresence the Stranger triturated
re coffee in an agate morter
laced in each cup the coarsely pulverized
rains, and then poured in the boiling
rafer.
"TaKe this" said Ernest. handing me ar
Eastern pipe. already prepared for smok
ing; "do not drink the coffee until th'
grounds have settled; suck your pipe, anC
keen silent" He set me an example, bS
settling himself among the cushions, clos
ing his eyelids and inhallng the smoke
with evident enjoyment
/ found that the pipe was made OF safc
ron-root and laid IL aside; took th'
coffee and found it delicious, and, havini
due regard for the ultra-Oriential heavi
ness in which my friend was submerged
/ begun TO entertain myself by examinin,
curiously the artistic maryels with which
the room was filled.
A large photograph placed on one OF the
small shelves about the sides OF the room
attracted my attention. At q distance 4
appeared like the picture OF Persian
nawl In clear relief. with wide vertica
and horizontal stripes. / approached more
closely, and could then perceive multi
ide OF cabalistic signs and figures, very
rare In appearance, and formed altogether
u wedges and darts. In the form OF stars
Lriangles. polygons. ETC.. without single