Listen, old girl, I've got some news.

the difficult task of engaging him in conversation

If you suffer from goalodicy then you will find yourself so obsessed by the future goal that you ignore the practical realities of your situation.

They ſerved with honour in the wars of Bajazet; but a plan of fortifying Conſtantinople excited his jealouſy: he threatened their lives; the new works were inſtantly demoliſhed; and we ſhall beſtow a praiſe, perhaps above the merit of Palæologus, if we impute this laſt humiliation as the cauſe of his death.