The hours seemed very tedious to Selim, he look’d a hundred times on his watch: infine the fatal moment came, and the courtier went to visit his mistress. It was late, but as he had admission at all hours, Fulvia’s apartment was opened for him⁠—“I had given you over,” said she, “and I went to bed with a swimming in my head, which I owe to the impatience you have thrown me into.”

“Madam,” answered Selim, “business and respect have detained me with the Sultan; and since I parted from you, I have not been master of myself one moment.”

“And for my part,” replied Fulvia, “I have been in a dreadful humour. How! two whole days without seeing you.”

“You know,” answered Selim, “what my rank obliges me to: and let the favour of the great appear ever so fixed⁠—”