Aga-Selman. I have witnesses, my lord, who will depose that in the hour of his death, Hadji-Ghafour declared to them that he had no other heir but his sister, Sekiné-Khanoun.
The President. Let the witnesses make their statement.
Aga-Selman [turning to the soldiers]. Make your statement.
The First Soldier. My lord, one day before the death of Hadji-Ghafour we went, my comrades and I, to pay him a visit. We asked him whether he had any children, sons or daughters, and he replied: “I have no one in the world but my sister, Sekiné-Khanoun.”
The President. Swear by the name of God that this is just what you heard.
The First Soldier. I swear by the name of God that this is just what I heard. [Aga-Merdan becomes quite pale, and seems thunderstruck, as does Aga-Selman.]
The President [turning to the other soldiers]. And you, what did you hear? Speak in turn.
The Second Soldier. I call God’s name to witness that this is just what I heard.
The Third Soldier. I call God’s name to witness that I also heard the same.
Aga-Merdan [in a voice trembling with anxiety]. But at that moment did you not perceive a little child in the arms of Hadji-Ghafour’s wife?