He informed me that the paupers had held a Council of State, in which they had made a special examination of our late flight.

He and Layelah had both been examined, as well as the Kosekin who had gone after us; but Layelah's testimony was by far the most important.
The Council of State gathered from Layelah's report that we had fled to Magones for the especial purpose of gaining the most blessed of deaths; that she pursued us in the interest of the state; and that we on her arrival had generously surrendered our own selfish desires, and had at once returned.
We learned that much gratification was felt by the council, and also expressed, at Layelah's account and at our action.
First, at our eager love of death, which was so natural in their eyes; secondly, at the skill which we had shown in selecting Magones; and finally, at our generosity in giving up so readily the blessed prospect of exile and want and death, so as to come back to the amir.

Had we been Kosekin our acts would have been natural enough; but, being foreigners, it was considered more admirable in us, and it seemed to show that we were equal to the Kosekin themselves.

It was felt, however, that in our eager rush after death we had been somewhat selfish; but as this probably arose from our ignorance of the law, it might be overlooked.

On the whole it was decided that we ought to be rewarded, and that, too, with the greatest benefits that the Kosekin could bestow.