‘I apprehend by no means,’ said Fakredeen.
‘What is larger?’
‘London is larger, the great city of the English, from which the prince comes; Paris is also larger, but not so large as London.’
‘How many persons are there in Stamboul?’
‘More than half a million.’
‘Have you seen Antakia (Antioch)?’ the Queen inquired of Tancred.
‘Not yet.’
‘You have seen Beiroot?’
‘I have.’
‘Antakia is not nearly so great a place as Beiroot,’ said the Queen; ‘yet once Antakia was much larger than Stamboul; as large, perhaps, as your great city.’