The Sultan had made but three trials of his ring; and yet, in a circle of ladies who were allowed a stool at the Manimonbanda’s, one of them related a discourse held by the Toy of a president’s lady, next that of a marchioness, then she disclosed the pious secrets of a devotee, infine those of several women who were not there: and God knows the stories that were father’d on their Toys; nor was there any parsimony of smutty tales. From facts they came to reflections. “I must confess,” says one of those ladies, “that this witchcraft (for it is a spell cast on Toys) keeps us in a cruel state. How! to be eternally under apprehensions of hearing an impertinent voice issuing from one’s self.”

“But madam,” answered another, “this fright astonishes us with regard to you. When a Toy has nothing ridiculous to tell, what does it signify, whether it be silent or speak?”

“It signifies so much,” replied the first, “that I would freely give half my jewels, to be assured that mine will never speak.”