'But if this is all,' objected the Sultan, 'there are in Nejed several young men, sons of my chief courtiers, who possess the same qualifications. Choose one of them.' 'On the contrary, to choose one of them would arouse the jealousy of all the rest, with their families and slaves and freedmen, whereby the kingdom would easily be exposed to civil war. But if I take a stranger it is more probable that all will be for him, since you are beloved, and there is no reason why one party should oppose him and another support him, since none of them know anything of him.' 'But he will not be beloved by the people unless he is liberal, and he has nothing wherewith to be generous.' 'And where are the treasures of Riad?' laughed Zehowah. 'Is it not easy for you to go secretly to his chamber and to give him as much gold as he needs?' 'That is also true. I see that you have set your heart upon him.' 'Not my heart, my father, but my head. For I have infinitely more head than heart, and I see that the welfare of the kingdom will be better secured with such a ruler, than it would have been under a foreign prince whose right hand would be perpetually thrust out to take in Nejed that which his left hand would throw to courtiers in his own country. Do I speak wisdom or folly?' 'It is neither all folly nor all wisdom.' 'I have seen this man, I have heard him speak,' said Zehowah. 'He is as well as another since I must marry sooner or later. Moreover I have another argument.' 'What is that?' 'Either he is a man strong enough to rule me, or he is not,' Zehowah answered with a laugh. 'If he can govern me, he can govern the kingdom of Nejed. But if not I will govern it for him, and rule him also.' The Sultan looked up to heaven and slightly raised his hands from his knees. 'Allah is merciful and forgiving!' he exclaimed. 'Is this the spirit befitting a wife?' 'Is it charity to cause happiness?' 'Undoubtedly it is charity.' 'And which is greater, the happiness of many or the happiness of one?' 'The happiness of many is greater,' answered the Sultan. 'What then?' he asked after a time, seeing that she said nothing more. 'I have spoken,' she replied. 'It is best that I should marry him.' Then there was silence for a long time, during which the Sultan sat quite motionless in his place, watching his daughter, while she looked idly through the lattice at the people who came and went in the court below. She seemed to feel no emotion. The Sultan did not know how to oppose Zehowah's will any more than he could answer her arguments, although his worldly wisdom was altogether at variance with her decision. For she was the beloved child of his old age and he could refuse her nothing. Moreover, in what she had said, there was much which recommended itself to his judgment, though by no means enough to persuade him. At last he rose from the carpet and embraced her. 'If it is your will, let it be so,' he said.