and his choice fell upon el Heccari, a wise lawyer who had come to Egypt in the train of Shirkuh. A truly oriental plan was devised and put into effect. One after the other of the big emirs was visited by the lawyer. First came Saif ed-din AH ibn Ahmed. " You never would have got it/' said El Heccari, in mild remonstrance, "so long as A'in ed-Daula el-Yarouki and Ibn Telil were candidates." The truth of this could not be disputed, so the first appeal was successful. Chechab ed-din el-Haremi, an uncle of Saladin, was the next in order. Said the lawyer flatly: " Saladin is at the head of the kingdom. As he is the son of your sister you can regard this distinction which has come to him as your own. Anyhow, do not you be the first to seek to deprive him of his dignity, for never would it come to you." This logic was accepted and forthwith the uncle called upon his nephew and pledged his loyalty. The triumphant attorney hastened on to Kotb ed-din. " Everybody has accepted Saladin but you and El Yarouki," he protested, " yet there is a tie which should attach you to him. You are both Kurds and you cannot permit the control to pass to the Turcomans." Another ten stroke, it would have seemed ; but not in this case. El Yarouki proved adamant. He was too powerful, both because of his exalted position and the number of his following. The wily lawyer exerted all his eloquence and powers of persuasion to win him over, but the emir's jealous anger could not be appeased. Off