107
Meanwhile Alaeddin tarried not, but went forthright to the baker and bought of him bread and changed the dinar; then, returning to his mother, he gave her the bread and the rest of the money and said to her, “O my mother, go and buy us what we need.” So she arose and going to the market, bought all that they needed and they ate and were cheered. Then, whenassoever the price of a platter was spent, Alaeddin would take another and carry it to the Jew; on which wise the accursed Jew bought them all of him for a small matter and would fain also have reduced the price; but, since he had given him a dinar the first time, he feared to offer him less, lest the lad should go and sell to another[1] and he lose that excessive profit. Accordingly, Alaeddin ceased not to sell him platter after platter till he had sold them all and there was left him only the tray whereon they had been; then, for that it was big and heavy, he went and fetched the Jew to the house and brought out to him the tray. When he saw it and noted its bigness, he gave Alaeddin ten dinars, which he took, and the Jew went his way.
Alaeddin and his mother lived upon the ten dinars till they came to an end; then he arose and bringing out the
- ↑ Lit. “to the contrary of him” (ila khilafihi). See ante, p. 55, note 4.
