'From the robbers' haunt?' enquired Hassan.
'Unfortunately so,' answered the merchant.
'Is it far?'
'A day's journey.'
'And you quitted it?'
'Yesterday morn.'
'What is their force?'
The merchant hesitated.
'Do they not make prisoners?' enquired the Governor, casting a
scrutinising glance at his companion.
'Holy Prophet! what a miserable wretch am I!' exclaimed the venerable
merchant, bursting into tears. 'A faithful subject of the Caliph, I am
obliged to serve rebels, a devout Moslem, I am forced to aid Jews! Order
me to be hanged at once, my lord,' continued the unfortunate merchant,
wringing his hands. 'Order me to be hanged at once. I have lived long
enough.'
'What is all this?' enquired Hassan; 'speak, friend, without fear.'
'I am a faithful subject of the Caliph,' answered the merchant; 'I am a
devout Moslem, but I have lost ten thousand dirhems.'
'I am sorry for you, sir; I also have lost something, but my losses are
nothing to you, nor yours to me.'
'Accursed be the hour when these dogs tempted me! Tell me, is it sin to
break faith with a Jew?'
'On the contrary, I could find you many reverend Mollahs, who will tell
you that such a breach is the highest virtue.
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