Faisal bin Turki prodded the fire with an iron.
"Boulenger, tell me this. If a king is universally acknowledged an excellent statesman, but is eagerly overythown by his own people, is he really all that good?"
Boulenger chuckled. "Faisal, you are thinking of my friend Dom Pedro II."
"Yes."
"On ne jette des pierres qu'a l'arbre chargé de fruits. The shiny, brilliant lizard is quickly spotted by birds. Now, Faisal, come here. I need help with this Christmas card I'm writing."
But Faisal was dreaming of Marcus Aurelius dressed in Tyrian purple.