Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/175

 THE EIGHTH OFFICER’S STORY.

A friend of mine once invited me to an entertainment; so I went with him, and when we came into his house and sat down on his couch, he said to me, “This is a blessed day and a day of gladness, and [blessed is] he who liveth to [see] the like of this day. I desire that thou practise with us and deny us not, for that thou hast been used to hearken unto those who occupy themselves with this.” I fell in with this and their talk happened upon the like of this subject. Presently, my friend, who had invited me, arose from among them and said to them, “Hearken to me and I will tell you of an adventure that happened to me. There was a certain man who used to visit me in my shop, and I knew him not nor he me, nor ever in his life had he seen me; but he was wont, whenever he had need of a dirhem or two, by way of loan, to come to me and ask me, without acquaintance or intermediary between me and him, [and I would give him what he sought]. I told none of him, and matters abode thus between