mekrezeni, as impassible as the law itself,
seized her in the vice of his arms, and carried
her out of the audience-chamber with a delicate
ease which promised future eminence in
his profession. This done, he returned with
as calm a countenance as if he had just been
drinking a glass of water.

"Now speak," said the court to the
remaining plaintiff; "but, of all things, be
brief!"

"You have seen this woman," said the
man, a little out of breath. "By her shouting
and her abuse you can judge of her
temper. How do you think I can continue
to live with such a creature as she is?"

"Well, what prevents your being divorced?
Why have you not already repudiated her
before now?"

"Justice of Allah! If the business is not
yet done, it is not because we have not both
of us wished for it. The only point on which
we have ever agreed is, that it is impossible
for us to live together."

"What obstacle, then, prevented you from
accomplishing your mutual wish? Was it
the money?"

"The money! By no means; for I am
willing to cede her dower to her; and I
heartily renounce the portion of it which I
have a just right to claim. The money! By
the benediction of Sidi Calhha, instead of
claiming it, I would rather pay it, in order
to be free from such a she-devil. The peace
of one's tent can't be purchased too dear."

"But what, in short, can be the obstacle?"

"The relations! Those infernal relations,
who came and assailed us on both sides with
their arguments about propriety, decorum,
and such like nonsense. As if to live in
peace with one's wife were not the height
itself of propriety, instead of fighting all day
long."

"That is a very sensible observation."

"That is the reason why we have come
before you, to ask you to do us the favour to
divorce us, seeing that in our neighbourhood
the thing is rendered impossible by the
resistance of our respective families."

"You were quite right in coming to me;
for your desires shall be immediately satisfied.
Heaven forbid that I should allow you to
remain much longer in this wretched state.
From misery to crime is but a single step;
and that is why our Christian religion
imposes on us the sacred duty of succouring all
who suffer, no matter what their misfortune
may be. You will obtain directly the relief
you require. Let the other plaintiff be
admitted now."

The woman entered. Her exasperation
was a little calmed, but her volubility
remained as astounding as ever.

"You have turned me out by main
strength," she complained. "Your officer
pitched me out at the door as if he had been
handling a sack of onions at market. That,
however, is of no consequence at all, and I
make no remonstrance about it. But what
does annoy me is, that that man (pointing to
her husband) has no doubt been telling you
all sorts of horrors while I was absent, and
unable to refute them. But, whatever he
has said is nothing but falsehood, calumny,
and infamy. Perhaps he has told you that I
did not wish to be divorced! Well, I swear
by the tomb of Sidi Calhha, that I had rather
go without a husband all the rest of my life,
throw myself into the sea, or marry a Jew—
saving your presence—than continue to live
with him."

"If you will allow me to put in a word, I
will tell you news that will please and calm
you. In the first place, during your absence
you were not the subject of conversation;
the only topic was your divorce, which is
about to be pronounced immediately."

"Glory to Allah!" cried both the plaintiffs
immediately. "May Allah have mercy
on all your relations! May Allah prolong
your days! May Allah satisfy your desires!
May Allah guide you! May Allah direct
your judgment! May Allah destroy your
enemies! May Allah make you
victorious!"

"Thank you! Thank you kindly! Kadi,
you have heard the complainants; you are
competent to pronounce the divorce."

"Nothing is easier. Sidi Krelil says, in
the Chapter on Divorce, that when the parties
are agreed, it is a sin not to satisfy them
immediately. Sidi Brahim even defines the
punishment applicable to any kadi who, in
such cases, defers the divorce to another day.
This punishment is in proportion to the
amount of the dowry. Sidi Lekhhal also
mentions it, though incidentally, in his
Chapter on Plantations. There is also Sidi—"

"No more, I beg of you. Leave the doctors
of the law alone, and pronounce the divorce.
That is the only question now before us."

"'Tis true; you are right." Then he
added, in solemn and nasal tones, "Husband
and wife, do you consent to a divorce?"

"O, yes, yes!" replied the plaintiffs, with
touching unanimity.

"Then," said the kadi, still more solemnly,
and with more sonorous trumpetings through
his nose, "in the name of the law, you are
disunited."

"Glory to Allah! Glory to Allah!"
echoed the happy couple with one accord.

"I shall now draw up the act of divorce.
You can come for it in the evening."

"That business is settled at last," said the
man. "Our relations will be taken a little
by surprise. And now, my darling, go
wherever the devil drives you; and if I
really am the descendant of Sidi Calhha, may
Allah put out both your eyes, or rather,
perhaps, wither your tongue, as the greater
punishment of the two!"

"Stuff!" replied the woman, "I set your
curse at defiance. If you are a marabout, I
am a maraboute; and if you cast my lot, I