made forty-nine attempts to get married, and the next time I shall
succeed. If it isn't the woman's lucky number too, that's her affair.
Show me the fifty pounds."

"I haven't that much with me," answered Yussuf Dakmar. "I will pay you
in Damascus."

"All right. Then I will give you the letter in Damascus."

"No, no! Get it as soon as possible."

"I will."

"And give it to me immediately. Then if you like you can stay close to
me until I pay you in Damascus."

"'The ass is invited to a wedding to carry wood and water, and they beat
him with one of the sticks he carried,'" Jeremy quoted. "No, no, no! I
will get the letter, for I know how. After I have it you may keep close
to me until we reach Damascus. I will show it to you, but I won't give
it to you until after I get the fifty pounds."

"Very well, since you are so untrustful."

"Untrustful? I am possessed by a demon of mistrust! Why? Because I
know I am not the worst person in the world, and what I can think of,
another might do. Now, if you were I and I were you, which God forbid,
because I am a happy fellow and you look bilious, and you stole the
letter for me because I promised to pay you in Damascus, but wouldn't
give me the letter until I paid you, do you know what I would think of