"Peace be to you," said Karim.
"Peace be to you," replied the shop keeper, eyeing Karim's good coat and new hat. "With God's blessing have you come. I can see by your looks that you are a good rider and know good saddles. Let me show you this one. It is fit for King Solomon himself."
"I am looking for a saddle," replied Karim, feeling pleased, "and it must be a good one, suited to an attendant of Ardashir Khan, the son of the governor. But I am not as rich as King Solomon, and cannot buy saddles fitted for him."
"Indeed, may I be your sacrifice!" cried the shop keeper. "This saddle is a very poor gift, but take it, for you are a servant of our good governor, whom I hope God will bless. It is a present. My eyes for it, just command me, and it's yours."
"O no," said Karim, "of course I could not rob you so. I shall buy it, and pay you good money. What's your price?"
"No!" insisted the shop keeper, "take it. It is yours, with God's blessing."
"I cannot," said Karim. "I will buy it. What is your price?"
The shop keeper looked disappointed. "If you won't take the saddle as a present," he said, "you must name your own price. I can sell nothing to the servant of our governor, whom I hope God will bless. Name a price, my soul; anything, and it is yours."