?" The
grand vizier quieted her fears by promising that her son should be
sent back again in less than an hour, and that when he returned she
would learn the reason of his being sent for, which would give her
great pleasure. "If that be the case, sir," replied she, "permit me
first to change his dress, that he may be more fit to appear before
the Commander of the Faithful." And she immediately put on her son a
clean suit.

The grand vizier conducted the boy to the caliph, and presented him at
the time appointed for hearing Ali Cogia and the merchant.

The caliph, seeing the child rather terrified, and wishing to prepare
him for what he expected him to do, said to him: "Come here, my boy,
draw near. Was it you who yesterday passed sentence on the case of Ali
Cogia and the merchant who robbed him of his gold? I both saw and
heard you, and am very well satisfied with you." The child began to
gain confidence, and modestly answered that it was he. "My child,"
resumed the caliph, "you shall see the true Ali Cogia and the merchant
to-day; come and sit down next to me."

The caliph then took the boy by the hand, and seated himself on his
throne, and having placed him next to him, he inquired for the
parties; they advanced, and the name of each was pronounced as he
touched with his forehead the carpet that covered the throne. When
they had risen, the caliph said to them: "Let each of you plead your
cause; this child will hear and administer justice to you, and if
anything be deficient, I will remedy it."

Ali Cogia and the merchant each spoke in his turn; and when the
merchant requested to be allowed to take the same oath he had taken on
his first examination, the boy answered that it was not yet time, for
it was first necessary to inspect the jar of olives. At these words
Ali Cogia produced the jar, placed it at the feet of the caliph, and
uncovered it. The caliph looked at the olives, and took one, which he
tasted. The jar was then handed to some skilful merchants who had been
ordered to appear, and they reported it as their opinion that the
olives were good, and of that year's growth. The boy told them Ali
Cogia assured him they had been in the jar seven years, to which the
real merchants returned the same answer which the children as feigned
merchants had made on the preceding evening.

Although the accused merchant plainly saw that the two olive
merchants had thus pronounced his condemnation, yet he nevertheless
atte