"Proceed, good Menouni," interrupted Mustapha, "his highness is not fond of remarks." "No, by our beard," rejoined 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-hi-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 despatched 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?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------