And Grim said, being a more cautious liar than the rest of us: "Therefore, O Lion of Petra, mercy is due to the lady Ayisha, seeing that the end in view was good, although the means were questionable." But Jael Higg looked daggers at her lord.

She had made up her mind to reduce that establishment by one at least; and Ali Higg, looking in her eyes, read what all polygamous husbands have had to face ever since the day when Abraham was forced to drive out Hagar into the wilderness.

So he pronounced one of those Solomon-like judgments that are the secret of a man's rule over men in that land, granting to each contender the whole of what he asked, yet having his own way in the bargain.
"I find she is not worthy of death," he said, "since she played a trick that brought me comfort.

Yet I will not endure a woman's tricks, nor condone the offense.

I divorce her.