taunt implicit in that appellation.

"And thou'rt the jester," replied Ayoub with forced calm, "thou'lt find
the jest a costly one."

With a shrug Tsamanni turned again to the dalal. "A thousand philips,"
said he shortly.

"Silence there!" cried the dalal again. "Silence, and praise Allah who
sends good prices."

"One thousand and one hundred," said Ayoub the irrepressible

And now Tsamanni not only found himself outbidden, but he had reached
the outrageous limit appointed by Asad. He lacked authority to go
further, dared not do so without first consulting the Basha. Yet if he
left the sok for that purpose Ayoub would meanwhile secure the girl.
He found himself between sword and wall. On the one hand did he
permit himself to be outbidden his master might visit upon him his
disappointment. On the other, did he continue beyond the limit so idly
mentioned as being far beyond all possibility, it might fare no less ill
with him.

He turned to the crowd, waving his arms in furious gesticulation. "By
the beard of the Prophet, this bladder of wind and grease makes sport of
us. He has no intent to buy. What man ever heard of the half of such a
price for a slave girl?"

Ayoub's answer was eloquent; he produced a fat bag and flung it on the
ground, where it fell with a mellow chink. "There is my sponsor," he
made answer, grinning in the very best of humours, savouring to the
full his enemy's rage and discomfiture, and savouring it at no cost
to himself. "Shall I count out one thousand and one hundred philips, O
dalal."

"If the wazeer Tsamanni is content."

"Dost thou know for whom I buy?" roared Tsamanni. "For the Basha
himself, Asad-ed-Din, the exalted of Allah," He advanced upon Ayoub with
hands upheld. "What shalt thou say to him, O dog, when he calls thee to
account for daring to outbid him."

But Ayoub remained unruffled before all this fury. He spread his fat
hands, his eyes twinkling, his great lips pursed. "How should I know,
since Allah has not made me all-knowing? Thou shouldst have said so
earlier. 'Tis thus I shall answer the Basha should he question me, and
the Basha is just."

"I would not be thee, Ayoub--not for the throne of Istambul."

"Nor I thee, Tsamanni; for thou art jaundiced with rage."

And so they stood glaring each at the other until the dalal called them
back to the business that was to do.

"The price is now one thousand and one hundred philips. Wilt thou suffer
defeat, O wazeer?"