AGA-MERDAN. What? Has not Aga-Kerim done so? I said that I would give thirty tomans to each of those gentlemen. You know, yourself, what your share is to be. THE INSPECTOR. Yes, but you must advance to the lads the half of their fee. AGA-MERDAN. Most willingly, if you will now retire. Aga-Kerim will bring your fifty tomans for yourself, as well as half of the fee to be paid to each of these young men. The Inspector. Very good. God protect you. [_The Inspector retires with his followers, then the door opens again, and four soldiers enter with Aga-Kerim._] =Scene XII= THE SOLDIERS. Good-day, sir. AGA-MERDAN. Good-day, my lads. Be good enough to take a seat. You are extremely welcome. Excuse the trouble which I have given you. ONE OF THE SOLDIERS. Don’t mention it, sir; it is ours to be grateful for the honor of entering the house of a man so honorable. AGA-MERDAN. A well-educated man is well received anywhere. Have you lunched? THE SOLDIERS. No, we arrived before luncheon time. AGA-MERDAN. Aga-Kerim, send someone to the bazaar to purchase for the boys four portions of rice of kebah, likewise of ice and citron cup. See there be an extra supply of kebah, for they are very hungry. You’ll like a great deal, won’t you? A SOLDIER. Why take all this trouble, my lord? We will repair ourselves to the bazaar, and eat a bit there. AGA-MERDAN. What trouble is it, my dear friend? It is lunch time, why should you wish to leave my house fasting and famished? Please God, my plan is best. THE SOLDIER. My lord, what do you desire of us? AGA-MERDAN. Nothing much, my lad; I only wish to ask you a plain question. THE SOLDIER. Speak, my lord--two if you like. AGA-MERDAN. Did you bear to burial Hadji-Ghafour? THE SOLDIER. Yes, my lord, it was we who buried him. Why do you ask? AGA-MERDAN. Ah, I congratulate you on your generous conduct. Your company is always a great honor, not only because you are the defenders of Islam, but also because you do good service to all people in their days of distress. While the cholera prevailed there remained scarce a living soul in the town; you alone did not quit it, making in advance the sacrifice of your lives. May the Thrice Holy Majesty of God reward you worthily for this! But did you ever see Hadji-Ghafour when he was alive, my son? THE SOLDIER. Yes, my lord, we saw him alive. AGA-MERDAN. In that case, you must also at his side have seen his little son in long clothes, who was then a month old. THE SOLDIER. No, my lord, we never saw him. AGA-MERDAN. Perhaps he was at that moment in his mother’s arms? THE SOLDIER. No, my lord. We asked Hadji-Ghafour how many children he had, sons or daughters, big or little, and he answered that only a sister would survive him.