In going out it was necessary that I should pass through the apartment where the Arab was. As I concealed the clothes, he said to me, "My brother, what have you got there hid under your cloak?"
I replied that it was my wife's dress, which I was carrying to the tailor.
"Show it to me," he said. I showed it to him, blushing.
"O merciful God," he exclaimed, "you are going to sell it in order to get money to enable you to be hospitable towards me! Stop, Hassan! here are ten pieces of gold; spend them in buying what is needful for our own wants and for those of your family."
I obeyed, and plenty and happiness seemed to revisit my abode. Every day the Arab gave me the same sum, which, according to his orders, I spent in the same way; and this continued for fifteen days. On the sixteenth day my guest, after chatting on indifferent matters, said to me, "Hassan, would you like to sell yourself to me?"
"My lord," I replied, "I am already yours by gratitude."
"No," he replied, "that is not what I mean; I wish to make you my property, and you shall fix the price yourself."
Thinking he was joking, I replied, "The price of a freeman is one thousand dinars if he is killed at a single blow; but if many wounds are inflicted upon him, or if he should be cut in many pieces, the price is then one thousand five hundred dinars."
"Very well," answered my guest, "I will pay you this last-mentioned sum if you will consent to the bargain."
When I saw that he was speaking seriously, I asked for time in order to consult my family.