The servant of the king bowed his head and passed swiftly away.
"Now, onward to Damascus," said Naaman, throwing himself wearily back upon the cushions.
At that moment, however, one of Naaman's servants, a white-haired old man, approached the chariot and said:
"Wilt my lord hear patiently old Masrekah whose hair has grown gray in his service and who didst serve his father before him?"
"Speak, my good Masrekah," answered Naaman.
"My lord, thou art a mighty man of valor and know not the meaning of fear," continued Masrekah. "If the prophet, Elisha, bade thee do some act difficult of achievement, thou wouldst have listened and obeyed?"
"Ay, most willingly," replied Naaman.
"Then, my master, do not despise this thing that Elisha bid thee do because it is a simple thing," said Masrekah. "My lord, I do not believe that Elisha doth intend thee mockery and insult. Didst thou not take heed of the words of the king's servant, 'The ways of Elisha are not like unto the ways of other men?' Thou, my lord, didst expect to find him in a palace, but instead he dwelleth as do the poor and lowly. Thou didst think that he would heal thee with ostentatious and impressive ceremonial, but he sendeth thee word to go to bathe seven times in the Jordan and thou shalt be clean. My Lord, despise not the bidding of Elisha."
"Thou speaketh with the wisdom of years, my good Masrekah," answered Naaman. "Naaman will give heed to thy words. I go to bathe seven times in the Jordan."