Too Literal

At court, polite questions are often just… polite.

The English singer Anna Storace was performing in Vienna at a gala and received plenty of compliments. The Emperor passed by and asked whether she was enjoying herself and if there was anything he could do for her.

Storace took the question at face value. Calmly, she replied: “Yes, Your Majesty—I’m quite thirsty. Will you get me a glass of water?”

You can imagine the faces of everyone around. The Emperor, to his credit, didn’t take offense. He simply ordered an attendant to bring her water—and moved on, smiling.