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I would wander from room to room in pursuit of them the whole night long。
Amid the eddy of these dream…fragments； amid the smell of henna and the twanging of the guitar； amid the waves of air charged with fragrant spray； I would catch like a flash of lightning the momentary glimpse of a fair damsel。 She it was who had saffron…coloured paijamas； white ruddy soft feet in gold…embroidered slippers with curved toes； a close… fitting bodice wrought with gold； a red cap； from which a golden frill fell on her snowy brow and cheeks。
She had maddened me。 In pursuit of her I wandered from room to room； from path to path among the bewildering maze of alleys in the enchanted dreamland of the nether world of sleep。
Sometimes in the evening； while arraying myself carefully as a prince of the blood…royal before a large mirror； with a candle burning on either side； I would see a sudden reflection of the Persian beauty by the side of my own。 A swift turn of her neck； a quick eager glance of intense passion and pain glowing in her large dark eyes； just a suspicion of speech on her dainty red lips； her figure； fair and slim crowned with youth like a blossoming creeper； quickly uplifted in her graceful tilting gait； a dazzling flash of pain and craving and ecstasy； a smile and a glance and a blaze of jewels and silk； and she melted away。 A wild glist of wind； laden with all the fragrance of hills and woods； would put out my light； and I would fling aside my dress and lie down on my bed； my eyes closed and my body thrilling with delight； and there around me in the breeze； amid all the perfume of the woods and hills； floated through the silent gloom many a caress and many a kiss and many a tender touch of hands； and gentle murmurs in my ears； and fragrant breaths on my brow； or a sweetly…perfumed kerchief was wafted again and again on my cheeks。 Then slowly a mysterious serpent would twist her stupefying coils about me； and heaving a heavy sigh； I would lapse into insensibility； and then into a profound slumber。
One evening I decided to go out on my horseI do not know who implored me to stay…but I would listen to no entreaties that day。 My English hat and coat were resting on a rack； and I was about to take them down when a sudden whirlwind； crested with the sands of the Susta and the dead leaves of the Avalli hills； caught them up； and whirled them round and round； while a loud peal of merry laughter rose higher and higher； striking all the chords of mirth till it died away in the land of sunset。
I could not go out for my ride； and the next day I gave up my queer English coat and hat for good。
That day again at dead of night I heard the stifled heart…breaking sobs of some oneas if below the bed； below the floor； below the stony foundation of that gigantic palace； from the depths of a dark damp grave； a voice piteously cried and implored me： 〃Oh； rescue me！ Break through these doors of hard illusion； deathlike slumber and fruitless dreams； place by your side on the saddle； press me to your heart； and； riding through hills and woods and across the river； take me to the warm radiance of your sunny rooms above！〃
Who am I？ Oh； how can I rescue thee？ What drowning beauty； what incarnate passion shall I drag to the shore from this wild eddy of dreams？ O lovely ethereal apparition！ Where didst thou flourish and when？〃 By what cool spring； under the shade of what date…groves； wast thou bornin the lap of what homeless wanderer in the desert？ What Bedouin snatched thee from thy mother's arms； an opening bud plucked from a wild creeper； placed thee on a horse swift as lightning； crossed the burning sands； and took thee to the slave…market of what royal city？ And there； what officer of the Badshah； seeing the glory of thy bashful blossoming youth； paid for thee in gold； placed thee in a golden palanquin； and offered thee as a present for the seraglio of his master？ And O； the history of that place！ The music of the sareng； the jingle of anklets； the occasional flash of daggers and the glowing wine of Shiraz poison； and the piercing flashing glance！ What infinite grandeur； what endless servitude！
The slave…girls to thy right and left waved the chamar as diamonds flashed from their bracelets； the Badshah； the king of kings； fell on his knees at thy snowy feet in bejewelled shoes； and outside the terrible Abyssinian eunuch； looking like a messenger of death； but clothed like an angel； stood with a naked sword in his hand！ Then； O； thou flower of the desert； swept away by the blood…stained dazzling ocean of grandeur； with its foam of jealousy； its rocks and shoals of intrigue； on what shore of cruel death wast thou cast； or in what other land more splendid and more cruel？
Suddenly at this moment that crazy Meher Ali screamed out： 〃Stand back！ Stand back！！ All is false！ All is false！！〃 I opened my eyes and saw that it was already light。 My chaprasi came and handed me my letters； and the cook waited with a salam for my orders。
I said； 〃No； I can stay here no longer。〃 That very day I packed up； and moved to my office。 Old Karim Khan smiled a little as he saw me。 I felt nettled； but said nothing； and fell to my work。
As evening approached I grew absent…minded； I felt as if I had an appointment to keep； and the work of examining the cotton accounts seemed wholly useless； even the Nizamat of the Nizam did not appear to be of much worth。 Whatever belonged to the present； whatever was moving and acting and working for bread seemed trivial； meaningless； and contemptible。
I threw my pen down； closed my ledgers； got into my dog…cart； and drove away。 I noticed that it stopped of itself at the gate of the marble palace just at the hour of twilight。 With quick steps I climbed the stairs； and entered the room。
A heavy silence was reigning within。 The dark rooms were looking sullen as if they had taken offence。 My heart was full of contrition； but there was no one to whom I could lay it bare； or of whom I could ask forgiveness。 I wandered about the dark rooms with a vacant mind。 I wished I had a guitar to which I could sing to the unknown： 〃O fire； the poor moth that made a vain effort to fly away has come back to thee！ Forgive it but this once； burn its wings and consume it in thy flame！〃
Suddenly two tear…drops fell from overhead on my brow。 Dark masses of clouds overcast the top of the Avalli hills that day。 The gloomy woods and the sooty waters of the Susta were waiting in terrible suspense and in an ominous calm。 Suddenly land； water； and sky shivered； and a wild tempest…blast rushed howling through the distant pathless woods； showing its lightning…teeth like a raving maniac who had broken his chains。 The desolate halls of the palace banged their doors； and moaned in the bitterness of anguish。
The servants were all in the office； and there was no one to light the lamps。 The night was cloudy and moonless。 In the dense gloom within I could distinctly feel that a woman was lying on her face on the carpet below the bedclasping and tearing her long dishevelled hair with desperate fingers。 Blood was tricking down her fair brow； and she was now laughing a hard； harsh； mirthless laugh； now bursting into violent wringing sobs； now rending her bodice and striking at her bare bosom； as the wind roared in through the open window； and the rain poured in torrents and soaked her through and through。
All night there was no cessation of the storm or of the passionate cry。 I wandered from room to room in the dark； with unavailing sorrow。 Whom could I console when no one was by？ Whose was this intense agony of sorrow？ Whence arose this inconsolable grief？
And the mad man cried out： 〃Stand back！ Stand back！！ All is false！ All is false！！〃
I saw that the day had dawned； and Meher Ali was going round and round the palace with his usual cry in that dreadful weather。 Suddenly it came to me that perhaps he also had once lived in that house； and that； though he had gone mad； he came there every day； and went round and round； fascinated by the weird spell cast by the marble demon。
Despite the storm and rain I ran to him and asked： 〃Ho； Meher Ali； what is false？〃
The man answered nothing； but pushing me asi