Question

There is indeed another custom, which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king has a mind to put any of his nobles to death in a gentle indulgent manner, he commands to have the floor strewn with a certain brown powder of a deadly composition, which being licked up, infallibly kills him in twenty-four hours.
Which setting does the passage above indicate?

the moments between meals in the king’s home

a peaceful afternoon at the home of a noble

the time of execution in the king’s palace

a calm day at a dirt-covered park

Answer 1

The answer to this question is "the time of execution of the king's palace". In the given passage, part of their custom, when somebody commits an unforgivable crime, he will be punished with death. Although, the King does not like this kind of scene on his palace he needs to follow what is needed. He then commanded his men to clean the floor and spread the powder which will be caused to the person after licking it in 24 hours. This kind of death is gentle.