".... and I dare say, imbibing alcohol out of public eye should not be punishable. Yes, it clearly is a sin, but as long as it is committed in privacy, and affects no one but himself, it is a matter between oneself and God, and in my humble opinion, secular authorities should not have jurisdiction on such matter."

"But wouldn't such lax view erode the public morality? And by not punishing sin, whether committed in privacy or not, would it not be same as actively encouraging it? That surely would be a sin of its own kind!"

"Effendim, You seem to have such a dim view of your fellow believers! God did not grant us reason and agency for nothing! Mirza Rustam, may I ask what your thoughts are on this matter?"

"Well, Cemil Effendi, I am afraid that my own views are more in agreeance with Sidi Garsiyah. But I would prefer it if we discussed a subject less.... incendiary in nature. Perhaps we could discuss about.... the science of ploughing?"

"Well.... Now that you mention such subject, have you heard the news about the saplings and cuttings brought back from Kithay by human expeditioners? My cousin wrote to me in detail about some of the botanical wonders of the orient retrieved from the journey; slips of citruses that bear fruits as large as melons, and seedlings of a fruit previously unheard of, which is most astringent and inedible when fresh but rendered to be like honey when bletted or dried, in the manner of dates. Think of the profit one could garner if one could acquire such novelties ahead of others...."

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Gentries from different parts of the empire.

Overdid with the patterns and now way too cluttered.