ACT II
Reading edition
Hay—I greet your Excellency with rapture.
Ali Feroush Bey—May your wives be as the leaves of the forest.
H.—May it please your Excellency, the President says that if your august master finds it inconvenient to pay that little account he need not hurry.
A. F. B.—Allah forbid that the Light of the Universe should hurry about anything!
H.—The matter will keep, and an ultimatum delivered about the first week in November would——
A. F. B.—May jackasses sing on your grandmother’s grave! Do you think you can use the Brother of the Prophet to further your cursed election schemes? I shall advise that the bill be paid at once.
H.—Exalted sir, I fear you are pleased to talk through your turban. But I pray that you will permit me to withdraw. I must acquaint the President with your answer.
[Exit Hay.]
A. F. B.—The devil go with him! If I had him in Stamboul he’d be walking on wood!