'Turkish Gift'

Habedanski bowed, not trusting himself to speak. At a scornful wave of the imperial hand, an officer of the court came forward and bestowed upon the general a small gilded bag containing 200 ducats. The sultan grinned thinly. Well aware that the ambassador would have hurled the coins into his face had he dared. He half lifted his hand, token of dismissal, then paused, his eyes resting on the group of men who composed the general's suite. This man was the tallest in the room, strongly built, wearing his turkish gift garments clumsily. Do you speak turkey? Saliman did the fellow the stupendous honor of addressing him directly.