THE PRESIDENT [_to his assessors_]. And you were affirming a moment ago that Aga-Merdan was a virtuous man! Your words prove your dishonesty and deceit. Praised be God in his greatness and sublimity. I do not understand what all this means. AGA-BECHIN. No, my lord, what proves, on the contrary, that we are honest and loyal men is that we have given faith to the words of Aga-Merdan, and have believed him to be a man of honor. AGA-REHIM [_sotto voce to Aga-Settar_]. Oh, the liar, may the devil take him! Do you hear this scoundrel Aga-Bechin, what a good excuse he has ready? The President believes him, and imagines that we are really honest and sincere. [_At this moment the head bailiff of the Prince Royal enters._] =Scene III= THE HEAD BAILIFF [_to the President of the Tribunal_]. My lord, the Prince Royal asks whether the rights of Hadji-Ghafour’s sister have been proved? THE PRESIDENT. Yes, they have been established. But does the Prince Royal know how the proof has been effected? THE HEAD BAILIFF. Yes, my lord. The Inspector of the Market saw through the designs of Aga-Merdan and Aga-Selman. He informed the Prince Royal, who took the necessary measures for defeating their machinations. Meanwhile the crime of these two individuals has been proved, and I have received orders to lead them into the presence of the Prince Royal. THE PRESIDENT. Is Aga-Selman also implicated in this plot? THE BAILIFF. Yes, he was the secret accomplice of Aga-Merdan. [_The bailiff seizes Aga-Merdan and Aga-Selman and carries them off_.] =Scene IV= THE PRESIDENT. Aziz-Bey, you are to-day the protector of Sekiné-Khanoun. Go and tell her that in two hours I will take with me the sum of money left by Hadji-Ghafour, and bring it to her, and place it in her hands before the most honorable witnesses. AZIZ-BEY. It is well, my lord; I will go. =Scene V= AGA-BECHIN [_striking his hands together_]. By the death of the first-born, is it possible to utter fabrications such as those of this Aga-Merdan? O my God, what dishonest people have you created in your world! By his impostures, this wretch wished to set up a son to Hadji-Ghafour! Gentlemen, have you ever seen such audacity? Ah, you may now treat me as a fool, Aga-Djebbar, and may say that I am exceedingly simple and guileless to believe what the first-comer tells me. AGA-DJEBBAR [_turning his face and speaking sotto voce_]. Ah, the liar! May the devil carry him off! Oh, yes, you are simple and guileless--that is well known. [_Then in a loud tone:_] Let us adjourn, gentlemen. Let us abridge the fatigue of the President; he has gone through much exertion to-day. Why prolong this talk? [_The President of the Tribunal leads the way out lost in thought. Then the others rise and leave._] =OTTOMAN POEMS= [_Metrical Translation by E. J. W. Gibb, M. R. A. S._] FROM THE ‘ĀSHIQ PASHA DĪWĀNI