Mansour, the Egyptian merchant, one day repaired to the cadi on account of a suit, the issue of which troubled him but little.  A private conversation with the judge had given him hopes of the justice of his cause.  The old man asked his son Omar to accompany him in order to accustom him early to deal with the law.

The cadi was seated in the courtyard of the mosque.  He was a fat, good-looking man, who never thought, and talked little, which, added to his large turban and his air of perpetual astonishment, gave him a great reputation for justice and gravity.

The spectators were numerous; the principal merchants were seated on the ground on carpets, forming a semicircle around the magistrate.  Mansour took his seat a little way from the sheik, and Omar placed himself between the two, his curiosity strongly excited to see how the law was obeyed, and how it was trifled with in case of need.

The first case called was that of a young Banian, as yellow as an orange, with loose flowing robes and an effeminate air, who had lately landed from India, and who complained of having been cheated by one of Mansour’s rivals.

“Having found a casket of diamonds among the effects left by my father,” said he, “I set out for Egypt, to live there on the proceeds of their sale.  I was obliged by bad weather to put into Jidda, where I soon found myself in want of money.  I went to the bazaar, and inquired for a dealer in precious stones.  The richest, I was told, was Mansour; the most honest, Ali, the jeweler.  I applied to Ali.

“He welcomed me as a son, as soon as he learned that I had diamonds to sell, and carried me home with him.  He gained my confidence by every kind of attention, and advanced me all the money I needed.  One day, after dinner, at which wine was not wanting, he examined the diamonds, one by one, and said, ’My child, these diamonds are of little value; my coffers are full of such stones.  The rocks of the desert furnish them by thousands.’

“To prove the truth of what he said, he opened a box, and, taking therefrom a diamond thrice as large as any of mine, gave it to the slave that was with me.  ‘What will become of me?’ I cried; ’I thought myself rich, and here I am, poor, and a stranger.’

“‘My child,’ replied Ali, ’Leave this casket with me, and I will give you a price for it such as no one else would offer.  Choose whatever you wish in Jidda, and in two hours I will give you an equal weight of what you have chosen in exchange for your Indian stones.’

“On returning home, night brought reflection.  I learned that Ali had been deceiving me.  What he had given to the slave was nothing but a bit of crystal.  I demanded my casket.  Ali refused to restore it.  Venerable magistrate, my sole hope is in your justice.”

It was now Ali’s turn to speak.  “Illustrious cadi,” said he, “It is true that we made a bargain, which I am ready to keep, The rest of the young man’s story is false.  What matters it what I gave the slave?  Did I force the stranger to leave the casket in my hands?  Why does he accuse me of treachery?  Have I broken my word, and has he kept his?”