“I own the fact, madam, but I see nothing in it that should give offence. If a man happens to be disgusted at fine things, and amuse himself with hearing bad, so much the worse for him. This unjust preference takes nothing from the merit of what he has quitted: he only declares himself a bad judge. To this I could add, madam, that while you were labouring hard at Selim’s conversion, I was working with no better success to procure you a castle. Infine , if I must be culpable, since you have pronounc’d me so, I can assure you that you have had your revenge at the very time.”

“Pray, how that?” said the favorite. “Thus it is,” answered the Sultan. “In order to refresh myself from the fatigue of the academical sitting which I had undergone, I went to examine some Toys.”

“Well, prince⁠—”

“Well, I never heard such insipid creatures as the two which I light upon.”