Sunlight on a Broken Column - pg. 146

The terraced houses enclosing the lawns and gardens were freshly painted too, their golden-yellow colour relieved by touched of white on mouldings and pillars. An aura of romance still clung to them though they were now merely the town houses of Taluqdars whereas they had once sheltered the beauties of the Royal harem, and the King was said to have walked across their roofs shaded by a flight of pigeons. The two elaborate gates leading into the quadrangle were still decorated with the emblem of the Kings of Oudh -- two arched fish in relief.