ter of form.

PEHR. Renounce my forefathers' Faith--But that outrageous!

VIZIER. Political considerations--the people's welfare--

PEHR. I must become a Mohammedan and may not drink a glass of wine?

VIZIER. There are substitutes in all politics.

PEHR. What are they?

VIZIER. Compromises, modifications--

PEHR. Circumventions, eh?

VIZIER. Will it please Your Highness to sign?

PEHR. But I shall despise myself if I begin with a low action, and all
the more will the people have the right to despise me!

VIZIER. The people demand that the ruler sacrifice all personal
considerations for their welfare.

PEHR. Their welfare, then, is to be built upon a lie and a crime?

VIZIER. [Goes toward window.] Your Highness, the people await their
chief. They are always ready to offer their sweat and blood for the
ruler, therefore they demand, also, that the ruler make his sacrifices.

PEHR. Is what you say true? Well, then, give it me! [Accepts
paper--hesitates.] The belfry, the chimes, the singing, the lights,
Christmas--all pass before mine eyes! No more Christmas Eve! Life is so
pitiless; it only demands, but never gives anything!

VIZIER. Your Highness, the people are clamoring! They would see their
chief in the attire of the old caliphs--the crown and sceptre await to
be borne anew by a branch of the old ancestral tree.

PEHR. [Catches sight of crown and sceptre.] Ah! Vizier, who can command
me to forswear my faith?

VIZIER. The laws.

PEHR. Who made the laws?

VIZIER. Our forefathers.

PEHR. They were weak mortals, like ourselves. Well and good, I'll make
over all the laws!

VIZIER. The Caliph does not reconstruct laws, for our form of
administration has not given him law-making rights.

PEHR. What is the form of administration in this land?

VIZIER. Constitutional Despotism.

PEHR. Answer! Am I Caliph, or not?

VIZIER. You will be as soon as you have affixed your signature.

PEHR. Then hand me the paper! [Signs. Enter Viziers, Court Attendants,
etc. Crowning Ceremony.]

PEOPLE. [Without.] Long live Omar the twenty-seventh! Allah, Allah,
Allah!

VIZIER. Will it please Your Royal Highness to ascend the throne and
begin the reign?

PEHR. That will be quite diverting. Admit the people!

VIZIER. The people? The people have nothing to do with the Government!

PEHR. But surely I shall have someone to rule over?

VIZIER. That is done in writing. [Takes out a few documents.]

PEHR. Proceed!