"This insignificant person has decided," began her Augustness,
looking round and unscrewing the amber top of her snuff-bottle,
"to take an unintelligent part in these proceedings. An example
should be set. Attendant, write!"
She then dictated as follows: "The Ideal Man is he who now
decorates the Imperial Throne, or he who in all humility ventures
to resemble the incomparable Emperor. Though he may not hope to
attain, his endeavor is his merit. No further description it
needed."
With complacence she inhaled the perfumed snuff, as the writer
appended the elegant characters of her Imperial name.
If it is permissible to say that the faces of the beauties
lengthened visibly, it should now be said. For it had been the
intention of every lady to make an illusion to the Celestial
Emperor and depict him as the Ideal Man. Nor had they expected
that the August Aunt would take any part in the matter.
"Oh, but it was the intention of this commonplace and
undignified person to say this very thing!" cried the Lustrous
Lady, with tears in the jewels of her eyes.
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