"But why did I have to insist upon the pearls in the first place?" Jusa asked.
"I explained! As Empress, you must be flighty, must possess a whim of iron, must have no regard for anyone else's feelings, must lust for expensive baubles."
"All right," Jusa said.
"All right, what?"
"All right, swine."
"That's better," Nob said. "You're learning, Jusa, you really are. If you could just fluctuate your moods more consistently—"
"I really will try," promised the Empress. "I'll learn, Nob. You'll be proud of me yet."
"Good. Now there are some problems of state which you must decide upon. Prisoners of war, for one thing. We have several possible means for disposing of them. First, we could—"
"You take care of it."
"Now, now," Nob chided. "Mustn't shirk your duty."