Aga-Djebbar. He must be fully seven months old, is he not?
Aga-Merdan. Yes, exactly seven months.
The President. How is this? Does a son survive Hadji-Ghafour? They told me that he had no child.
Aga-Bechin. But he had one, my lord; you have been misinformed. He left a little boy who is as beautiful as a crescent moon. Yesterday, as we returned from prayer, we saw him on the doorstep in the arms of his nurse.
Aga-Merdan. He and Hadji-Ghafour are as much alike as two halves of an apple.
Aga-Settar. Do you recall, my lord, the features of Hadji-Ghafour?
The President. Yes, it is not so long since he died.
Aga-Settar. Well, when you see the face of this child you would think at first sight that you beheld that of Hadji-Ghafour.
The President. I did not know that. It is very good. But tell me, Aga-Merdan, if there is a son of Hadji-Ghafour living, it is a waste of time to open the case. It is evident that the fortune of his father ought to revert to this child, and in such a case the other relatives and collateral heirs have no claim upon it.
Aga-Merdan [in a tone of perfect humility]. My lord, if I recounted to you the reason on which their claims are based, you might doubt of my sincerity. But Aga-Bechin will tell you the whole story.