CHAPTER XXX[ToC]
THE UNWALLED VINEYARD
One morning, as we rode along, we came to vineyards on a valley-side. Rashîd dismounted and began to pick the grapes. Suleymân dismounted likewise, and invited me to do the same.
'But it is stealing,' I objected.
'Allah! Allah!' moaned Suleymân, as one past patience. He hung his head a moment, limp all over, as if the spirit had been taken out of him; then called out to Rashîd, who was devouring grapes:
'Return, O malefactor, O most wicked robber! Thou art guilty of a fearful crime. Thy master says so.'
Rashîd came back to us immediately, bringing a purple bunch, which he was going to give to me when Suleymân prevented him, exclaiming:
'Wouldst dishonour our good lord by placing in his hands the fruit of infamy, as if he were a vile accomplice of thy crime? For shame, O sinful depredator, O defrauder of the poor!'
Rashîd gaped at him, and then looked at me. I held out my hand for the grapes.