"Do so, do so, good Brahmin: good Seonath, I will not forget thee on my return. Inshalla! I can be grateful: I will make a nuzzur through thee to the temple."
"You will not fail to do so, I think, Shekhjee, for Ballajee hath been propitious to thee ever since thy nuzzurs have been offered up at his shrine. But I go to present thy gift, though it is a small one. Narayun keep thee!"
"It shall be doubled—trebled, Seonath. I swear to thee by Alla I will not forget when I return. Thou goest! Well, Alla Hafiz, my friend awaits me."
He returned to me. "Rejoice with me, my friend," cried he, "my kind Meer Sahib! After all, to-morrow is the lucky day. My friend the Brahmin sent one of his disciples to say there was a mistake in the calculations upon his tablets, and that the aspect of the heavens was favourable to me for an unlimited period. Ah, how wise he is, Meer Sabib, and how honest!—you called him a rogue: but see, he might have kept me in suspense for a month, and refused to consult the stars at all until he had been well paid. Well, after all, it is the power of Alla, and doubtless these infidels hold some communion with him which is denied to those of the true faith."
"So it would seem, Shekhjee," said I, humouring him; "it is no doubt wonderful that your friend, for an astrologer, is for once honest. Of course, you paid him liberally for his new discovery?"
The merchant winced. "A trifle, Meer Sahib; a few pice to purchase oil for the temple was all he wanted."
"Oh, rare disinterestedness!" cried I; "truly it is grateful to the heart to see such conduct in this selfish world, where every one appears to strive how he can overreach his neighbour. Of course, he has no prospective advantage?"
"None, Meer Sahib, none! How could a true believer have dealings or connection with an infidel? Do I not take advantage of his learning for my own convenience, and then laugh at his beard?" And he chuckled.
Liar! said I to myself, as I clenched my hand and ground my teeth, thou shalt answer to Alla for this perjury before thou art many days older. Verily this is a meritorious deed, and therefore hast thou been delivered into my hands. A Hajji too! Oh, shame, shame! Yet then I remembered the Arab verse which saith, "If thy neighbour hath performed the Haj, trust him not; and if he hath done it twice, haste thee to remove thine abode from his vicinity."
"Good, O Hajji," said I, "and you do right. But the night wanes, you had better make preparations for the journey; and let me offer you counsel; bring no one with you but a servant or two; my company is ample for your protection. I have a small pal which will hold us both; and, above all, bring not your son,—he will but fatigue himself for no good purpose, and be a clog on our rapid movements, for rapid they must be."