“I think so, but will ascertain.”

“Good. I shall wait upon them in the morning. At daybreak take ten pounds out of the treasury and carry it to thy relation to bespeak his favour.”

“Has aught untoward happened?”

“Untoward? Listen!” Yûsuf told the story.

“Merciful Allah! How can such things be?” exclaimed Ghandûr. “We are the greatest in the land, they⁠—filthy upstarts. How much does my good lord propose to give?”

“A thousand pounds were not too much to save my life.”