Hassan saw neither the tree nor the bird, but he pretended he did, and agreed with the odalisk.
"Of course it was a wood-pigeon and a nut-tree."
Yffim Beg did not understand it at all.
They went on further, and presently Yffim Beg again spoke.
"Shall we not turn, my master, towards that beautiful arcade of rose-trees?"
Azrael clapped her hands together in amazement.
"What! an arcade of roses! Where is it?"
"Turn in that direction and thou wilt see it."
"These things! Why if he isn't taking some sumach trees full of berries for an arcade of rose-trees!"
Hassan Pasha laughed. As for Yffim Beg he was lost in amazement—why did this damsel choose to jest with him in this fashion?