MR. JOUR. I am delighted to have made your acquaintance, so that you
may testify that my father was a nobleman.
COV. I will maintain it before the whole world.
MR. JOUR. You will oblige me greatly; may I know what business brings
you here?
COV. Since my acquaintance with your late father--a perfect gentleman,
as I was telling you--I have travelled to the end of the world.
MR. JOUR. To the end of the world?
COV. Yes.
MR. JOUR. I suppose it is a very far-off country.
COV. Very far off. I only returned four days ago, and owing to the
interest I take in all that concerns you, I have come to give you the
best news possible.
MR. JOUR. What can it be?
COV. You know that the son of the Grand Turk is here. [Footnote: There
seems to have been a Turkish envoy in Paris at that time.]
MR. JOUR. No, I didn't know.
COV. You didn't know! He has a most magnificent retinue of attendants.
Everybody goes to see him, and he has been received in this country as
a personage of the greatest importance.
MR. JOUR. Indeed? I have heard nothing of it.
COV. What is of great concern to you is that he is in love with your
daughter.
MR. JOUR. The son of the Grand Turk?
COV. Yes, and that he wishes to, become your son-in-law.
MR. JOUR. My son-in-law, the son of the Grand Turk!
COV. The son of the Grand Turk your son-in-law When I went to see him,
as I understand his language perfectly, we had a long chat together;
and after having talked of different things, he told me, _Acciam
croc soler onch alla moustaph gidelum amanahem varahini oussere
carbulath_? that is to say, "Have you not seen a beautiful young
girl who is the daughter of Mr.
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