ned the pacha; "it is for you to tell your
story, and for me to make remarks when it is over."

"I stand in the presence of wisdom," said Menouni, who bowed low and
proceeded.

* * * * *

The beauteous Babe-bi-bobu, for such was the name of the princess, and
which, in the language of the country, implied "the cream-tart of
delight," was left Queen of the Souffrarians by the death of her father;
and by his will, sworn to by all the grandees of the empire, she was
enjoined, at twelve years of age, to take to herself a husband; but it
was particularly expressed that the youth so favoured should be of the
same high caste as herself, and without _scar_ or _blemish_. When,
therefore, two years after her father's death, the beautiful
Babe-bi-bobu had attained the age of twelve years, swift runners on
foot, and speedy messengers mounted upon the fleetest dromedaries and
Arab horses of the purest race, were dispatched through all the kingdom
of Souffra to make known the injunctions of the will; the news of which
at last flew to the adjacent kingdoms, and from them to all the corners
of the round world, and none were ignorant. In the kingdom of Souffra,
from which the choice was to be made, all the youth of caste were in a
state of fermentation, because they had a chance of obtaining the
honour; and all those of lower caste were in a state of fermentation, to
think they had no chance of obtaining such an honour; and all the women
of high caste, or low caste, or no caste, were all in a state of
fermentation, because--because----

* * * * *

"Because they always are so," interrupted the pacha. "Proceed, Menouni."

"I thank your sublime highness for having relieved me in my case of
difficulty; for who can give reasons for the conduct of women?"

* * * * *

It is sufficient to say, that the whole country was in a state of
fermentation, arising from hope, despair, jealousy, envy, curiosity,
surmising, wondering, doubting, believing, disbelieving, hearing,
narrating, chattering, interrupting, and many other causes, too tedious
to mention. At the first intelligence every Souffrarian youth new-strung
his mandolin, and thought himself sure to be the happy man. Hope was
triumphant through the land, roses advanced to double their price: the
attar was adulterated to meet the exorbitant demand; and nightingales
were almost worshipped; but thi