By that time most of the notables were about as full as they could hold.

Those who were not too drunk appeared ready for anything in or out of reason.
At that stage of the proceedings they ushered in the dancing girls.

The servants cleared away most of the food, removed the table-cloths, and a ring was formed practically all around the room, the notables leaning their backs against the wall to ease overworked bellies.

I set my cushion down next to a very drunken man just by the narrow door that opened on the stairway leading to the ramparts.

He fell asleep with his head on my shoulder within five minutes, and as that, for some subtle reason, seemed to make me even more unnoticeable I let him snore away in peace.
Over in Abdul Ali's corner of the room there was a real council of war going on in whispers.