most in the European system is its dawdling, minute sloth in the manner of meting out justice. The Oriental holds that, when he is wronged, it is the business of the ruler or his executive delegate to right him at once, without delay, without expense, without wearying process of law, fully and finally. He appeals to his ruler loudly in the market-place, the mosque, or the hall of audience, expects that justice be dealt out then and there, that the decision may be inexorably, cruelly just, but must be reached irrespective of rules of evidence, precedent, customs or laws other than religious ones—and that all judgments must be made instantly executive and must under no conditions be subject to appeal.
So, as the princess' delegate, Hector held open court in front of the palace every morning, with Koom Khan and Gulabian as his advisers and often, when it came to settling domestic squabbles between husband and wife or master and servant, the old nurse contributing valuable, frequently profane, and always ruthlessly constructive counsel; and, in consequence, he was busy all day and half the night.
But he liked it. He forgot himself, his past work, his past disgrace and bitterness, in this work, and in the clean satisfaction of achieving which resulted from it.
The yellow wold of Sussex was forgotten.
All was forgotten except Jane Warburton.
In regard to the pacification and subjugation of the western marches, he progressed with the utmost slowness and caution, very much to the disappointment of
