CALIPH.  Ah, that is what Ali Cogia says.  What says the merchant?

VIZIER.  The merchant made oath before the Cauzee that he did not know there was money in the jar, and so of course could not have taken it.

CALIPH.  And the Cauzee dismissed the merchant, I believe.

VIZIER.  Yes, Commander of the Faithful, the merchant was acquitted.

CALIPH.  This Ali Cogia presented a petition to me to-day, and I promised to hear him to-morrow.  Would that I could know the truth of the matter that I may give a just sentence!

[They arrive at the court where several CHILDREN are playing in the moonlight.  The Caliph stops to watch them.]

FIRST CHILD.  Let us play that the Cauzee is trying the Merchant.

SECOND CHILD (joyfully).  Yes, yes!

THIRD CHILD (joyfully).  Yes, yes!

ALL CHILDREN (clapping their hands).  Yes, yes!

CALIPH (softly to Vizier).  Let us sit on this bench.  I would know what these children are playing.

[They sit, but are not seen by children.]

FIRST CHILD (taking his seat with great dignity).  I choose to be the
Cauzee!

SECOND CHILD (taking his place behind the Cauzee).  I choose to be the
Officer!

THIRD CHILD.  I choose to be Ali Cogia!

CAUZEE.  Who chooses to be the Merchant?

[Long pause; all the Children hang back.]

CAUZEE.  Come, Zeyn, you be the Merchant.

ZEYN.  Not I!  The part does not please me.

OFFICER.  Would you spoil everything, Zeyn?

ZEYN.  Oh, well, then, I’ll be the Merchant this time.

CAUZEE.  Officer, bring in the accused and his accuser.

[The Officer presents the Merchant and Ali Cogia before the Cauzee.]

CAUZEE.  Ali Cogia, what charge have you to make against this Merchant?

ALI COGIA (bowing).  Sir, when I journeyed from Bagdad seven years ago, I left with this Merchant a jar.  Now, into this jar I had put, with some olives, a thousand pieces of gold.  When I opened the jar, I found that it had been entirely filled with olives; the gold had disappeared.  I beseech your honor that I may not lose so great a sum of money!

CAUZEE.  Merchant, what have you to say to this charge?

MERCHANT.  I confess that I had the jar in my house, but Ali Cogia found it exactly as he had left it.  Did he ever tell me there was gold in the jar?  No.  He now demands that I pay him one thousand pieces of gold.  I wonder that he does not ask me for diamonds and pearls instead of gold.  I will take my oath that what I say is the truth.

CAUZEE.  Not so fast!  Before you come to your oath, I should be glad to see the jar of olives.

(Turning to Ali Cogia.)

Ali Cogia, have you brought the jar?

ALI COGIA.  No; I did not think of that.