After the funeral, Ahmed called the leading townspeople together to hear his father's will read, for he was certain that many gifts to charities would be announced. Such was the case, and there were subdued murmurs of applause when the amounts were read forth.
Then suddenly the friend who had written to the young man and was reading the will, paused.
"I fear there must be a mistake," he said, in a whisper to Ahmed.
"Go on," urged the assembled people, and the man read in a strange voice:
"And now, having as I hope, faithfully performed my duty to the poor, I bequeath the rest of my possessions unto my devoted negro slave, Pedro."
"Pedro!" cried the astonished crowd.
They looked at the massive figure of the black attendant, but he stood motionless and impassive, betraying no sign whatsoever of joy or surprise.
Ahmed could not conceal his bewilderment.
"Is naught left unto me?" he managed to ask.
"Yes," returned his friend, and amid a sudden silence, he continued to read: "This bequest is subject to the following proviso: that one thing be given to my son before the division of my property, the same to be selected by him within twenty-four hours of the reading of this will unto him."