e, but--and here is the rub--he
can also withhold such blessings from Khalid. And now, do what he may,
say what he might, he must either revise his creed, or behave, at
least, like a Christian.

Everything is ready, you say? The sky-blue, many-ruffled wedding gown;
the set-out for the wayfare; the camel and donkeys; the little stock
of books; the coffee utensils; the lentils and sweet oil;--all ready?
Very well; but you can not set forth to-morrow, nor three weeks from
to-morrow. Indeed, before the priest can give you his blessings--and
what at this juncture can you do without them?--the dispensations of
the ban must be performed. In other words, your case must now be laid
before the community. Every Sunday, for three such to come, the
intended marriage of Khalid to Najma will be published in the Church,
and whoso hath any objection to make can come forth and make it.
Moreover, there is that little knot of consanguinity to be considered.
And your priest is good enough to come and explain this to you.
Understand him well. "An alm of a few gold pieces," says he, "will
remove the obstacle; the unlawfulness of your marriage resulting from
consanguinity will cease on payment of five hundred piasters."

All of which startles Khalid, stupefies him. He had not, heretofore,
thought of such a matter. Indeed, he was totally ignorant of these
forms, these prohibitions and exemptions of the Church. And the father
of Najma, though assenting, remarks nevertheless that the alms
demanded are much. "Why," exclaims Khalid, "I can build a house for
five hundred piasters."

The priest sits down cross-legged on the divan, lights the cigarette
which Najma had offered with the coffee, and tries to explain.

"And where have you this, O Reverend, about consanguinity, prohibition,
and alms!" Khalid asks.

"Why, my child, in the Canons of our Church, Catholic and Apostolic.
Every one knows that a marriage between cousins can not be effected,
without the sanction of the Bishop."

"But can we not obtain this sanction without paying for it?"

"You are not paying for it, my child; you are only contributing some
alms to the Church."

"You come to us, therefore, as a beggar, not as a spiritual father and
guide."

"That is not good speaking. You misunderstand my purpose."

"And pray, tell me, what is the purpose of prohibiting a marriage
between cousins; what chief good is there in such a ban?"

"Much good for the community."

"But I have