all allowed that no one's claims
equalled those of the erstwhile monk. So he was summoned to fill the
post, but was disqualified as unmarried. When they inquired if he was
willing to do his duty in this respect, and he replied that he was,
the father of the most beautiful girl in the city bestowed her on him,
and that she might not be portionless, the chief men of the place vied
one with another in heaping riches upon him. So he became Judge of
Judges, rich, happy, revered.

"And there was born unto him one son, then a second son, and even
a third son. And there was born unto him a daughter, then a second
daughter, and even a third daughter. So he prospered and increased.
And to his sons were born sons, one, two, three, and four, and
daughters withal. And his daughters were given in marriage to the
elders of that country, and with them it was likewise.

"Now there came a day, a great feast day, when all his descendants
came before him with their compliments and offerings, some small, some
great, each receiving tenfold in return, garments of fine spun wool
and silk, and other articles of value.

"When the ceremony was over he went outside the town to walk alone,
and approached the spot whence he had first descried what had so long
since been his home. As he sat again upon that well-remembered spot,
and glanced back at the many years which had elapsed since last he was
there, a party of the Faithful drew near. He offered the customary
salute of 'Peace be on you,' but they simply stared in return.
Presently one of them brusquely asked what he was doing there, and
he explained who he was. But they laughed incredulously, and then he
noticed that once again he was clad in robe and cowl, with a cord
round his waist. They taunted him as a liar, but he re-affirmed his
statements, and related his history. He counted up the years since he
had resigned himself, telling of his children and children's children.

"'Wouldst thou know them if you sawst them?' asked the strangers.
'Indeed I would,' was the reply, 'but they would know me first.'

"'And you are really circumcised? We'll see!' was their next
exclamation. Just then a caravan appeared, wending its way across the
plain, and the travellers hailed it. As he looked up at the shout, he
saw Mulai Abd el Kader still sitting opposite him at the chess-board,
reminding him that it was his move. He had been recounting his
experiences for the last half century to Mulai Abd el Kader