SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. But how can we help being taken at a disadvantage? AGA-KERIM. Well, tell me in the first place who your advocate is, so that I may see him, and make him acquainted with some of the tricks of Aga-Merdan. If he is intelligent he won’t let himself be caught napping. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. We do not know whom to take for our advocate. AGA-KERIM. How is that? You don’t know whom to take, and have not appointed anyone to defend you in this case? SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. No, we do not know whom to choose; we are just on the point of considering the question. AZIZ-BEY. Could not you, Aga-Kerim, name someone to whom we could intrust our case? AGA-KERIM. No, I know no one who would be able to hold his own against Aga-Merdan. I thought you had your advocate already on hand. AZIZ-BEY. No, we have not appointed anyone. We were merely on the lookout for a man of great ability whom we could intrust with the defence of our interests. But think again; cudgel your brains. Have you no idea of anyone? AGA-KERIM. No, I can think of no man who is of great ability. There are plenty of advocates, but there is none of them who could cope with Aga-Merdan. But stay; there is someone, if he would consent to be your advocate, for he has retired for some time from business of the kind. He alone would be able to hold his own with Aga-Merdan. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Who is he? AGA-KERIM. He is Aga-Selman, the son of the sieve-maker. Intrust your case with him if he will undertake it. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Who would be able to see him and speak to him about it? AGA-KERIM. It is not necessary to delegate anyone to see him. Send for him, and speak to him yourself here. Perhaps your arguments may persuade him to accept the case; the discourse of a woman has so much influence. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Aga-Kerim, could you not see him yourself, and send him to us? AGA-KERIM. No, madame. I have fallen out with him about a trifling matter. Send somebody else to fetch him. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. But how can you in this case give him certain information which you wish him to have? AGA-KERIM. If you had another advocate, I should deem it necessary to instruct him in these matters; but in the case of Aga-Selman it is superfluous. He is clever enough to make slippers for the devil himself. Although I have quarrelled with him, I cannot deny his merit. God grant that your lawsuit may succeed. AZIZ-BEY. I shall go and fetch him myself. [_Aziz-Bey and Aga-Kerim rise from their seats and prepare to go out._] AGA-KERIM. God preserve you, madame. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Thanks for your kind visit. AGA-KERIM. I shall never forget your goodness. [_Aga-Kerim goes out with Aziz-Bey._] =Scene XIV=