of him who acted as the merchant of Baghdad, they led him off as to execution.  The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, was greatly pleased at this acuteness of the boy who had assumed the part of judge in the play, and commanded his Wazir Ja’afar saying, “Mark well the lad who enacted the Kazi in this mock-trial and see that thou produce him on the morrow:  he shall try the case in my presence substantially and in real earnest, even as we have heard him deal with it in play.  Summon also the Kazi of this city that he may learn the administration of justice from this child.  Moreover send word to Ali Khwajah bidding him bring with him the jar of olives, and have also in readiness two oil-merchants of the town.”  Thus as they walked along the Caliph gave orders to the Wazir and then returned to his palace.  So on the morrow Ja’afar the Barmaki went to that quarter of the town where the children had enacted the mock-trail and asked the schoolmaster where his scholars might be, and he answered, “They have all gone away, each to his home.”  So the minister visited the houses pointed out to him and ordered the little ones to appear in his presence.  Accordingly they were brought before him, when he said to them, “Who amongst you is he that yesternight acted the part of Kazi in play and passed sentence in the case of Ali Khwajah?” The eldest of them replied, " ’Twas I, O my lord the Wazir;” and then he waxed pale, not knowing why the question was put.  Cried the Minister, “Come along with me; the Commander of the Faithful hath need of thee.”  At this the mother of the lad was sore afraid and wept; but Ja’afar comforted her and said, “O my lady, have no fear and trouble not thyself.  Thy son will soon return to thee in safety, Inshallah—­God willing—­and methinks the Sultan will show much favour unto him.”  The woman’s heart was heartened on hearing these words of the Wazir and she joyfully dressed her boy in his best attire and sent him off with the Wazir, who led him by the hand to the Caliph’s audience-hall and executed all the other commandments which had been issued by his liege lord.  Then the Commander of the Faithful, having taken seat upon the throne of justice, set the boy upon a seat beside him, and as soon as the contending parties appeared before him, that is Ali Khwajah and the merchant of Baghdad, he commanded them to state each man his case in presence of the child who should adjudge the suit.  So the two, plaintiff and defendant recounted their contention before the boy in full detail; and when the accused stoutly denied the charge and was about to swear on oath that what he said was true, with hands uplifted and facing Ka’abah-wards, the child-Kazi prevented him, saying, “Enough! swear not on oath till thou art bidden; and first let the jar of olives be produced in Court.”  Forthwith the jar was brought forward and placed before him; and the lad bade open it; then, tasting one he gave also to two oil-merchants who had been summoned, that they