Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/53

33 to him, ‘O Egyptian, wilt thou take service with me and I will clothe thee and carry thee with me to Jiddah?’ So Jouder took service with him and followed him to Jiddah, where he showed him much favour. After awhile, the merchant set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca, taking Jouder with him, and when they reached the city, the latter repaired to the temple, to make the round of the Kaabeh. As he was making the prescribed circuits, he saw his friend Abdussemed the Moor doing the like; and when the latter caught sight of him, he saluted him and asked him how he did; whereupon Jouder wept and told him all that had befallen him.

The Moor carried him to his lodging and entreated him with honour, clothing him in a dress of unmatched richness and saying to him, ‘Thou hast seen the end of thine ills, O Jouder.’ Then he levelled a tablet of sand and drew a geomantic figure, by which he discovered what had befallen Salim and Selim and said to Jouder, ‘Such and such things have befallen thy brothers and they are now in the King of Egypt’s prison; but do thou abide with me and accomplish thy religious duties at thine ease, and all shall be well.’ ‘O my lord,’ replied Jouder, ‘let me go and take leave of the merchant with whom I am and after I will come back to thee.’ ‘Dost thou owe money?’ asked the Moor, and he answered, ‘No.’ ‘Go,’ said Abdussemed, ‘and take leave of him and come back forthright, for men of honour owe a duty to those whose bread they have eaten.’

So Jouder returned to the merchant and took leave of him, saying, ‘I have fallen in with my brother.’ ‘Bring him here,’ said the merchant, ‘and we will make him an entertainment.’ But Jouder answered, saying, ‘He has no need of that; for he is a man of wealth and hath many servants.’ Then the merchant gave Jouder twenty dinars, saying, ‘Acquit me of responsibility;’ and he bade him farewell and went forth from him. As he went along, he

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