AGA-KERIM. Yes, on your soul it is. I have praised you so highly to the widow of Hadji-Ghafour that if you had been there you would not have believed your ears. “To-day,” I said to her, “there is no one of more consideration with the President of the Tribunal than Aga-Merdan. He is never deceived, and all he says comes to pass. At the palace among the advocates he is the only one recognized. This is so true of his reputation that on certain occasions he has public and private audiences with the Prince Royal. For knowledge of affairs he is the Plato of the century. Follow his advice implicitly, and do not be anxious about anything. It is only under his direction that you will be able to enter into possession of Hadji-Ghafour’s fortune; for, excepting through him, you have no right to the legacy!” The woman was well satisfied, even delighted, as was her brother, Aga-Abbas. Meanwhile they are coming to see you, in order that you may dictate to them the line they are to take. AGA-MERDAN. Very good, very good. But, tell me, have you been equally successful in securing for Aga-Selman the defence of the other party? AGA-KERIM. Yes. Aga-Selman is at this very moment with Sekiné-Khanoun, and as soon as he is at liberty he will come here. AGA-MERDAN. It is wonderful, Aga-Kerim. By God, you work miracles with your tongue. But, tell me, is the widow of Hadji-Ghafour pretty? AGA-KERIM. Why do you ask? AGA-MERDAN. Why, because I want her to fall in love with me, and marry me. Why should she not be my wife? AGA-KERIM. How can I tell you whether she will love you or not? Your age is a little advanced and the woman is young. AGA-MERDAN. No, Aga-Kerim, as sure as death, I am not so advanced in age. I am exactly fifty-one. AGA-KERIM. I shouldn’t have believed it; I thought you were seventy. AGA-MERDAN. Seventy? Not on your life. You know I was born the year of the great earthquake at Tebriz. AGA-KERIM. You are married already. AGA-MERDAN. I do not wish to marry her because I am in want of a wife. But this is how I consider the matter: If we succeed in carrying off all this fortune from Hadji-Ghafour’s sister, and transferring it to this woman, why should it go to another husband? Let me marry the woman, and the fortune becomes mine at the same time. This is also in your interest; what advantage will you otherwise gain from it? AGA-KERIM. Yes, but in that case what matters whether she be pretty or plain? It would be much better that she should be a monster, if in that way she would become enamored of you, and consent to marry you. But she is not plain, and I do not believe she would find you to her taste. AGA-MERDAN. Do you mean that I am not likely to please her, and to be accepted by her? AGA-KERIM. Come now, do not you know this yourself? Your face is certainly not particularly captivating.