Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/249

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And this also pleased him greatly, and he asked several times to have it repeated. And he did not quit his position until time for our evening prayer, after which he inquired, "What brings thee to this our town?"

"I want to sell this slave-girl," I replied.

"And how much demandest thou as her price?" he asked.

I answered, "Enough to pay my debts and to put my affairs in good order."

"Thirty thousand?" said he.

"By favour of Allâh, that and more," I replied.

"Will forty thousand satisfy thee?" he asked.

"That would pay my debts," said I, "but my hands would remain empty."

Then he said, "Verily I will take her for fifty thousand dirhems; and besides that, thou shalt have a rich robe, and the expenses of thy journey, and I will make thee a partner in my business so long as I live."

"Surely I have sold her to thee!" I cried.