We must act our parts and make the best of it." Taiwun, the Emperor's brother, was a sot of sots, and as the night wore on he challenged me to a drinking.

The Emperor was delighted, and commanded a dozen of the noblest sots to join in the bout.

The women were dismissed, and we went to it, drink for drink, measure for measure.
Kim I kept by me, and midway along, despite Hendrik Hamel's warning scowls, dismissed him and the company, first requesting, and obtaining, palace lodgment instead of the inn.
Next day the palace was a-buzz with my feast, for I had put Taiwun and all his champions snoring on the mats and walked unaided to my bed.
Never, in the days of vicissitude that came later, did Taiwun doubt my claim of Korean birth.

Only a Korean, he averred, could possess so strong a head.
The palace was a city in itself, and we were lodged in a sort of summer- house that stood apart.

The princely quarters were mine, of course, and Hamel and Maartens, with the rest of the grumbling cunies, had to content themselves with what remained.
I was summoned before Yunsan, the Buddhist priest I have mentioned.