decide and asked our opinion."

"What was this case?" asked the Pasha. And the judges recited it to
him, told what opinion they had given, and stated that they had, at
the Patriarch's request and for his use, placed their seal to this
opinion.

"Go home, you heads of asses," said the Governor, "and thank Allah
that it is to a noble and a great man who would make no unworthy use
of it that you have delivered a document testifying that Mohammed is
an impostor. In future, venture not to enter into judgment with men
whom it has pleased God to give more wit than to yourselves."

PARADISE SOLD BY THE YARD

The chief Imam of the Vilayet of Broussa owed to a Jew money-lender
the sum of two hundred piasters. The Jew wanted his money and would
give no rest to the Imam. Daily he came to ask for it, but without
success. The Jew was becoming very anxious and determined to make a
great effort. Not being able to take the Imam to court, he decided to
try and shame him into paying the sum due; and to effect this, he
came, sat on his debtor's doorstep and bewailed his sad fate in having
fallen into the hands of a tyrant. The Imam saw that if this
continued, his reputation as a man of justice would be considerably
impaired, so he thought of a plan by which to pay off his creditor.
Calling the Jew into his house, he said:

"Friend, what wilt thou do with the money if I pay thee?"

"Get food, clothe my children, and advance in my business," answered
the Jew.

"My friend," said the Imam, "thy pitiful position awakens my
compassion. Thou art gathering wealth in this world at the cost of thy
soul and peace in the world to come; and I wish I could help thee. I
will tell thee what I will do for thee. I would not do the same thing
for any other Jew in the world, but thou hast awakened my
commiseration. For the debt I owe thee, I will sell thee two hundred
yards of Paradise, and being owner of this incomparable possession in
the world to come, thou canst fearlessly go forth and earn as much as
possible in this world, having already made ample provision for the
next."

What could the Jew do but take what the Imam was willing to give him?
So he accepted the deed for the two hundred yards of Paradise. A happy
thought now struck the Jew. He set off and found the tithe-collector
of the revenues of the mosque, and made friends with him. He then
explained to him, when the intimacy had developed, how he was the
possessor of a deed enti