The cadi, who had been closely watching this contest, and who was
himself no less inflamed with desire than either of the pashas,
bethought him how he might remain possessor of the prize, without giving
any cause to suspect his insidious designs. Rising therefore to his
feet, he stepped between the two angry pashas. "Be quiet, Hassan," he
said; "calm yourself, Ali; here am I who can and will arrange your
differences in such wise that you shall both have your intentions
fulfilled, the Sultan shall be gratified as you desire, and shall be
under obligations to you both alike for your loyal and acceptable
homage."

The two pashas submitted at once to the cadi, as they would have done
even had the terms he imposed appeared harder to them, such is the
respect which is paid to their elders by those of that accursed sect.
The cadi then continued his address to them. "Ali," said he, "you say
that you want this Christian to present her to the Grand Signor; and
Hassan says the same. You allege that, having been the first to offer
the price required, she ought to be yours; but Hassan denies this; and
though he does not know how to assign valid grounds for his claim, yet I
find that he has the same as yourself, namely, the intention, which
doubtless must have arisen within him at the same time as within
yourself, to purchase the slave for the self-same purpose; only you had
the advantage of him in being the first to declare yourself. This,
however, is no reason why he should be out and out defrauded of the
benefit of his good-will, and therefore I am of opinion that it will be
well to arrange matters between you in this wise: let the slave be
bought by you both; and since she is to belong to the Grand Signor, for
whom you buy her, it will be for him to dispose of her. Meanwhile, you
Hassan shall pay two thousand doblas, and you Ali another two thousand,
and the slave shall remain in my custody, so that I may send her in the
name of you both to Constantinople, and thus I too shall not be without
some reward for my presence and aid on this occasion. Accordingly, I
undertake to send her at my own cost in a style worthy of the great
sovereign to whom she is to be presented; and I will write to the Grand
Signor a true account of all that has occurred here, and of the
good-will you have shown in his service."

The two enamoured pashas could find no pretext for gainsaying this
decision; and though it thwarted their desires, they were cons