He arose earlier than usual and opened the door, to find—verily!—customers, like ants, without; waiting, in varying degrees of impatience, to be served. [[173]]
“Praise be to Allah!” he exclaimed. “The prophecy of the second dervish is fulfilled!”
Greeting them courteously, he hastened to the stove to prepare the coffee, and, as he opened the boxes, behold! they were full to the top!
Without in any degree lessening his speed to serve the customers, his thoughts ran upon all that the dervishes had said. He could not pause an instant, for, as soon as one was served, another came to take his place; so that when the master approached, what was there but a sight that made him rub his old eyes, to make sure that they were not imagining vain things?
“What mystery is this!” he exclaimed, and remained still, perfectly overcome, having strength only to put his finger between his teeth, in order to assure himself that it was, indeed, he, and that he stood before his own shop. “Every day and every day I had one customer—or perhaps two—never three. There certainly must be some magic about this!”
Approaching nearer, with difficulty he found a place by which to enter; but, within, there was none in which to sit. So he turned to the busy youth and said: “My son, the coffee and sugar must be exhausted.”
“I have provided both,” was the cheery response. [[174]]“Let me persuade you to sit down, my master, and look to your own comfort and enjoyment.”
The bewildered proprietor retired to a corner and sat down; while on, through the day, his apprentice continued to labor.
At night, when it was time to close the shop, the master went to the money drawer; and there—above all wonders!—what should he see? It was level to the top with money!
The gratified man almost went out of his senses. He cried: “Bravo! my lad. Thy feet are the bearers of good fortune!” Then, in his joy, he kissed the youth’s eyes.