“Well, I should say it began with vulgarity and ended with a moral.”
“Vulgarity?”
“Yes.”
“But it was a real live emperor. He couldn’t be vulgar if he tried. He never squeezed my hand once.”
“Well, perhaps it was the introduction of the grand vizier.”
“He never squeezed my hand either.”
“Then perhaps it was yourself.”
She got up and drew herself to that graceful height from which she looked down on most things around her.
“Do I look vulgar?” she said.
“No.”