The favourite of the sultan, to whom he had formerly sold his china vase, though her charms were now somewhat faded by time, still retained her power and her taste for magnificence.
She commissioned my brother to bespeak for her, at Venice, the most splendid looking-glass that money could purchase.

The mirror, after many delays and disappointments, at length arrived at my brother's house.

He unpacked it, and sent to let the lady know it was in perfect safety.

It was late in the evening, and she ordered it should remain where it was that night, and that it should be brought to the seraglio the next morning.

It stood in a sort of ante-chamber to the room in which I slept; and with it were left some packages, containing glass chandeliers for an unfinished saloon in my brother's house.