d flavor and are fit for nothing but to be
thrown out." The boys spoke with assurance, for their fathers were
among the most expert olive dealers in the city, and they knew what
they were talking about.

The pretended Cadi then bade them examine the olives in the jar and
tell him how old they were. "As you see," said he, "they are of a fine
color, large, and of a delicious fresh taste."

The feigned merchants pretended to examine them carefully and then
announced the olives were of that year's growth.

"But Ali Cogia says he left them with Abul Hassan seven years ago, and
to this statement Abul Hassan agrees."

"It is impossible they should have been kept that long," answered the
feigned merchants. "As we tell you, after three years olives are worth
nothing, and at the end of seven years they would be utterly spoiled.
These are fresh olives and of this year's growth."

The boy who took the part of Abul Hassan would have tried to explain
and make excuses, but the pretended Cadi bade him be silent.

"You have sworn falsely," said he, "and also proved yourself a thief."

Then to the pretended guards he cried, "Take him away and let him be
hung according to the law."

The feigned guards dragged away the boy who was acting Abul Hassan and
then, the play being finished, all the boys clapped their hands and
shouted their approval of the way the feigned Cadi had conducted the
case.

Seeing that all was over the Caliph withdrew, beckoning to the Vizier
and Mesrour to follow him. After they had gone a short distance,
Haroun-al-Raschid turned to the Vizier and asked him what he thought
of the play they had just witnessed.

"I think," said the Vizier, "that the pretended Cadi showed a wisdom
and a judgment that the real Cadi would do well to imitate. I also
think the boy is a lad of remarkable intelligence."

"It is my own thought," replied the Caliph. "Moreover I have a further
thought. You know this very case between Ali Cogia and Abul Hassan is
to appear before me to-morrow, I have it in mind to send you to bring
this boy to the palace, and I will then let him conduct this case in
reality as he has to-day in play."

The Vizier applauded this plan, and he and his master returned to the
palace, still talking of the boy.

The next day the Vizier went back to the court they had visited the
evening before, and after looking about he found the lad who had taken
the part of the Cadi sitting in a doorway. The Vizier appr