This is in the Audience and Government Chamber and the Sultan, and often his Mother, (a very powerful woman) would spy on proceedings so they could evaluate people and their doings without being seen. The Sultan's Mother was considered extremely important and was very well educated in everything including diplomacy as Sultans tended to have a short life span (due to intrigues, war etc) and the heir was often only 5 or 6 years old at his inheritance.