Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/281

251 morning-meal; but he said, “No;” and I knew that he was fasting. When he heard the call to prayer, he said to me, “Thou knowest the condition?” “Yes,” answered I. So he loosed his girdle and applying himself to the ablution, made it after a fashion than which I never saw a goodlier; then went to the mosque and prayed with the congregation and returned to his work. He did the like upon the call to afternoon-prayer, and when I saw him fall to work again thereafterward, I said to him, “O my friend, the hours of labour are over for to-day; a workman’s day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer.” “Glory be to God,” answered he, “my service is till the night.” And he ceased not to work till nightfall, when I gave him two dirhems. Quoth he, “What is this?” “By Allah,” answered I, “this is [but] part of thy wage, because of thy diligence in my service.” But he threw me back the two pieces, saying, “I will have no more than was agreed upon between us.” I pressed him to take them, but could not prevail upon him; so I gave him the dirhem and the danic, and he went away.

Next morning early, I went to the station, but found him not; so I enquired for him and was told that he came thither only on Saturdays. So, when Saturday came, I betook me to the market and finding him there, said to him, “In the name of God, do me the favour to come and work for me.” [“Willingly,”] said he, “upon the conditions thou wottest of.” “It is well,” answered I and carrying him to my house, stood watching him, unseen of him, and saw him take a handful of mud and lay it on the wall, when, behold, the stones ranged themselves one upon another; and I said, “On this wise are the friends of God.” He worked out his day and did even more than before; and when it was night, I gave him his hire, and he took it and went away.

When the third Saturday came round, I went to the standing, but found him not; so I enquired for him and