He
found himself between sword and wall. On the one hand did he permit
himself to be outbidden his master might visit upon him his
disappointment. On the other, did he continue beyond the limit so idly
mentioned as being far beyond all possibility, it might fare no less ill
with him.
He turned to the crowd, waving his arms in furious gesticulation. "By
the beard of the Prophet, this bladder of wind and grease makes sport of
us. He has no intent to buy. What man ever heard of the half of such a
price for a slave girl?"
Ayoub's answer was eloquent; he produced a fat bag and flung it on the
ground, where it fell with a mellow chink. "There is my sponsor," he
made answer, grinning in the very best of humours, savouring to the full
his enemy's rage and discomfiture, and savouring it at no cost to
himself. "Shall I count out one thousand and one hundred philips, 0
dalal."
"If the wazeer Tsamanni is content."
"Dost thou know for whom I buy?" roared Tsamanni. "For the Basha
himself, Asad-ed-Din, the exalted of Allah," He advanced upon Ayoub
with hands upheld. "What shalt thou say to him, 0 dog, when he calls
thee to account for daring to outbid him."
But Ayoub remained unruffled before all this fury. He spread his fat
hands, his eyes twinkling, his great lips pursed. "How should I know,
since Allah has not made me all-knowing? Thou shouldst have said so
earlier. 'Tis thus I shall answer the Basha should he question me, and
the Basha is just.
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