"Spare me."
"'—to bring Vasbti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look on.' Do I quote immodestly, my lord?"
"Not immodestly," he answered. "For I think—I'll be sworn—no woman ever had half your beauty without knowing it. But you quote mal a propos. Queen Vashti refused to come."
"'Therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.'"
"I think, again, that you were not the woman to obey any such fear."
"No. Queen Vashti refused to come, being a queen. Whereas I, my lord—
"'Being your slave, what should I do but tend
Upon the hours and times of your desire?'"
"My slave?" he asked. "Setting aside last night—when I was disgustingly drunk—have you a single excuse for using that word?"
"Of your giving, none. You have been more than considerate. Of my own choosing, yes."
He stared.