aid the spokesman of the judges, "it is his wise answers that
act as magic upon you? We will give him a question to answer, and if
he solves this to our satisfaction, he will then in reality be a great
man."

"I am sure you will not be disappointed!" said the Pasha. "He has
never failed me, and I have sometimes put questions to him which
appeared unanswerable. He will surely call to-morrow. Shall I send him
to you or bring him myself?"

"We wish to see him alone," said the judges.

"I shall not fail to send him to you to-morrow, after which I am sure
you will often seek his company."

On the following day the Pasha told the Patriarch how matters stood,
and begged him to call on the gentlemen who took so lively an interest
in their friendly association.

The Patriarch, never dreaming of what would happen, called on the
twelve wise men and introduced himself. They were holding the Divan,
and the entrance of the Patriarch gave considerable pleasure to them.
On the table lay a turban and a drawn sword.

The customary salutations having been duly exchanged, the Patriarch
seated himself, and at once told them that his friend the Governor had
asked him to call, and he took much pleasure in making their
acquaintance, adding that he would be happy to do anything in his
power that they might wish.

The spokesman of the Divan rose and said: "Effendi, our friend the
Governor has told us of your great learning, and we have decided to
put a question to you. The reason of our taking this liberty is
because the Governor told us that he had never put a question to you
which had remained unanswered."

And as he spoke he moved toward the table.

"Effendi, our question will consist of only a few words." And laying
his right hand on the turban and his left hand on the sword, he said:
"Is this the right, or is this the right?"

The Patriarch paused aghast at the terrible feature of the
interrogation. He saw destruction staring him in the face.
Nevertheless he said to them with great composure: "Gentlemen, you
have put an exceedingly difficult question to me, the most difficult
that could be put to man. However, it is a question put, and now,
according to your laws, cannot be recalled."

"No," answered the twelve wise men, rubbing their hands, "it cannot be
recalled."

"I will but say that it grieves me much to have to reply to this," the
Patriarch continued, "and I cannot do so without continued prayers for
guidance. Therefo