He read and thought and studied, and yet found time for paying some
attention to outer affairs. In Persia he had amassed a considerable
fortune, which he had conveyed to Mecca in the form of jewels sewn into
his belt and into the seams of his garments, hence he was abundantly
able to pay his way, and to expend something in charity; and between his
and Amzi's generosity the family of Nathan lacked nothing.

Yusuf obtained possession of parts of the Scriptures, written on
parchment, and spent every morning in their perusal, ever finding this
period a precious feast full of comforting assurances, and
hope-inspiring promises. He never forgot to pray for Amzi, to whom he
often read and expounded passages of Scripture, without being able to
notice any apparent effect of his teaching.

It troubled him much that Amzi lent such a willing ear to Mohammed, and
to the few fanatics among the Hanifs who had now professed their belief
in this self-proclaimed prophet of Allah. It seemed marvelous that a man
of Amzi's wisdom and learning should be so carried away by such a flimsy
doctrine as that which Mohammed now began to proclaim. Amzi appeared to
have fallen under the spell which Mohammed seemed to cast over many of
those with whom he came in contact; and, though he acknowledged no
belief in the so-called prophet, neither did he profess disbelief in
him.

Yusuf's happiest hours were those spent in the little Jewish Christian
church, a poor, uncomfortable building, where an earnest handful of
Jews, who were nevertheless firm believers in the divinity of Christ,
met, often in secret, always in fear of the derisive Arabs, for prayer
and study of the Gospel. Among these, the wife of Nathan was never