Having done this, he was about to retire, when, to his great
surprise, the Fakir tendered him a ring of some value.
"The wise," said Hartley, declining the present, and at the same time
paying a suitable compliment to the Fakir's cap and robe,--"the wise of
every country are brethren. My left hand takes no guerdon of my right."
"A Feringi can then refuse gold?" said the Fakir. "I thought they took
it from every hand, whether pure as that of an Houri, or leprous like
Gehazi's--even as the hungry dog recketh not whether the flesh he eateth
be of the camel of the prophet Saleth, or of the ass of Degial--on whose
head be curses!"
"The book says," replied Hartley, "that it is Allah who closes and who
enlarges the heart. Frank and Mussulman are all alike moulded by his
pleasure."
"My brother hath spoken wisely," answered the patient. "Welcome the
disease, if it bring thee acquainted with a wise physician. For what
saith the poet--'It is well to have fallen to the earth, if while
grovelling there thou shalt discover a diamond.'"
The physician made repeated visits to his patient, and continued to do
so even after the health of El Hadgi was entirely restored. He had no
difficulty in discerning in him one of those secret agents frequently
employed by Asiatic Sovereigns. His intelligence, his learning, above
all, his versatility and freedom from prejudices of every kind, left no
doubt of Barak's possessing the necessary qualifications for conducting
such delicate negotiations; while his gravity of habit and profession
could not prevent his features from expressing occasionally a perception
of humour, not usually seen in devotees of his class.
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