CHIEF OF POLICE
Yallah, these poets. They talk in rhyme.

ALI
(Who has risen and salaamed, advancing) I pray you, Sirs,...

CHIEF OF POLICE
O thou maggot! Darest thou address us?

ALI
I pray you only regard...

CHIEF OF POLICE
I pray you only remove, or I will split you from the top.

ISHAK
Do you not see that he has a paper, and that his manners are superior
to yours, O Captain of Police? Let me look at thy paper....
Ah--ah. Whence came this, O virtuous wanderer?

ALI
From that balcony, may thy slaves be forgiven!

CHIEF OF POLICE
This is a very important clue. Let us break in the door.

ISHAK
There is no door. But first of all send word to the Palace Guard.

CHIEF OF POLICE