"With whom dost thou decree that Ormed shall remain? with his adopted or with his real father?"
Hadgi-Achmet, addressing himself to Chamyl, said, "In what does thy fortune consist?"
Chamyl enumerated his possessions: a house, a ship, several country houses, and merchandise.
"Can these things be removed?" asked Hadgi-Achmet.
"Some of them can," replied Chamyl.
"And the others," replied Hadgi-Achmet; "couldst not thou, if necessary, dispose of them, and buy others with the price?"
"I could," replied Chamyl.
"And the affection which thou hadst for thy sons who are dead, couldst thou transfer it, and bestow it upon other children."
"Ah! that would be impossible," replied Chamyl, sorrowfully.
"Then affection cannot be transferred or exchanged," said Hadgi-Achmet; "and as it forms part of the heart of man, it is of far higher consequence than material things, is it not?"