take council of a woman and do the opposite of what she says.'"
So they turned their dromedaries' heads to the West and rode for many a long night until they came to the village of El Jebwina, which is a day's ride from the holy town where lived Hadji Nassim, the rich merchant. When they reached El Jebwina, they had spent their last purse; so they sold their dromedaries and that night slept among the animals' hoofs in the courtyard of the Khan. The next morning they set out on foot, just as the sun appeared on Allah's tent, for they hoped to enter the gates of the great town before dawn spread its gray bournous over the land.
They walked and walked and walked until their feet were tired and sore, when a merchant overtook them. Rubies and diamonds flashed in his green turban, his cloak was of the finest Bokhara silk, and he rode a great white horse which was like Borak, the lion-headed horse of the Prophet, on whom be peace. And behold it was Nassim himself, the rich brother, the man with the heart of stone.
Khassoum recognized him and said: "Nassim, it is I, thy brother, who is speaking to thee, and this
