"Brother," began Mahmoud, "I come, in the utmost perplexity, to ask a favour of you."
_Mahmoud._ My ship has gone to pieces; all my creditors are urgent, and will not hear of delay; my whole happiness depends on this one day; do just lend me ten thousand sequins for a time.
_Omar._ Ten thousand sequins?--You're not talking nonsense, brother?
_Mah._ No, Omar, I know what that sum is very well; and just so much, and not one sequin less, can save me from the most disgraceful poverty.
_Mah._ Give them to me, brother; I will do my utmost to return them to you in a short time.
_Omar._ Where are they to come from? I have much due to me that is still unpaid; I don't myself know what I am to do,--this very day I have been cheated of a hundred sequins.
_Mah._ Your credit will easily procure me this amount.
_Omar._ But not a soul will lend money now. There's mistrust on all sides; not that I am mistrustful, heaven knows, but every one would guess that I want the money for you; and you know best on what frail threads one's confidence in a merchant often hangs.
_Mah._ Dear Omar, I must confess I didn't expect these demurs from you. If we were to change sides, you would not find me so suspicious and dilatory.
_Omar._ So you say. I am not suspicious either; I wish I could help you. I call God to witness, how glad I should be.
_Omar._ All I have would not make the sum you require.
_Mah._ O heavens! I had reproached myself for not making my brother the first of whom I asked assistance; and I am truly sorry that I have burdened him with a single word.
_Omar._ You are angry; you are wrong in being so.
_Mah._ Wrong? which of us neglects his duty? Ah, brother, I don't know you!
_Omar._ I have just lost a hundred sequins to-day; another three hundred are not at all safe, and I must make up my mind to the loss of them. If you had but come to me last week,--oh, yes, then most heartily.
_Mah._ Must I then remind you of our former friendship? Ah! how low can misfortune degrade us!
_Omar._ You talk, brother, almost as if you wished to insult me.
_Omar._ When one does all one can,--when one is in distress oneself, and in hourly fear of losing more,--can a man in such a case help being vexed when he receives nothing but bitter mockery and abject contempt for all his good-will?