At the same time, by moving his ring up and down with dexterity, Mangogul caused a very singular dialogue between the lady and her Toy. Ismene, who had always conducted her little affairs well enough, and had never had a confidante, answer'd the Sultan, that all the art of calumniators would be ineffectual. "_Perhaps,_" answer'd the unknown voice. "How, perhaps," reply'd Ismene, piqued at this injurious doubt, "what have I to fear from them?" "_Every thing, if they knew as much as I._" "And what do you know?" "_Many things, I tell you._" "Many things, that says much, but means nothing. Can you tell any particulars?" "_Without doubt._" "And of what nature? Have I been really in Love?" "_No._" "Have I had intrigues, adventures?" "_Exactly._" "And with whom, pray? With Petits-maitres, military men, senators?" "_No._" "Comedians?" "_No._" "You shall see, it was with my pages, my footmen, my confessor, or my husband's chaplain." "_No._" "Mr Impostor, you are at your wits end?" "_Not quite._" "Yet I can see no other person, with whom one can possibly have adventures. Was it before, was it after my marriage? Answer me then, impertinent." "_Ah, madam, spare invectives, if you please. Compel not the best of your friends to take some disagreeable steps._" "Speak, my dear, tell, tell all. I value your services as little as I fear your indiscretion. Explain your self: I not only give you full permission, but even dare you to it." "_To what do you reduce me, Ismene?_" said the Toy, breathing a deep sigh. "To render justice to vertue." "_Well then, virtuous Ismene, have you quite forgot young Osmin, the sangiac Zegris, your dancing master Alaziel, your music master Almoura?_" "Ah! what horrid calumnies," cried Ismene. "I had a mother, who was too vigilant to expose me to such irregularities: and my husband, were he here, would testify that he found me just such as he could wish." "_Very true,_" replied the Toy, "_thanks to the secret of your intimate friend Alcina._" "This is so extravagantly and so grossly ridiculous," said Ismene, "that it deserves no refutation. I cannot say," continued she, "which of these ladies Toys it is, that pretends to be so knowing in my affairs: but it has related things, of which my own does not know a syllable." "Madam," answered Cephisa, "I can assure you, that mine has gone no farther than giving ear." The rest said as much, and they sate down to play, without precisely knowing the interlocutor of the conversation above related. CHAP. XII. _Fifth Trial of the Ring._ Play.