Things like that take place occasionally when the court is flustered.

But in its natural course, believe me, Turkish justice, if slow-moving, is as good as that of Europe and infinitely less expensive than your English law.' I made no answer, feeling quite bewildered.
Suleyman was always serious in manner, which made it very hard to tell when he was joking or in earnest.

Among the natives of the land, I knew, he had the reputation of a mighty joker, but I had learnt the fact from the applause of others.

I never should have guessed from his demeanour that he jested consciously.
He also held his peace until we reached our hostelry.

There, some half-hour later, when I had given orders for our horses to be ready for a start directly after luncheon--a decision against which Suleyman protested unsuccessfully, declaring it would be too hot for riding--I overheard him telling the whole story of our visit, including the donation of the four mejidis, to Rashid, who was lazily engaged in polishing my horse's withers.
'That secretary is a man of breeding,' he was saying, in a tone of warm approval; 'for I noticed he was careful to receive the present in his left hand, which he placed behind his back in readiness, with great decorum.