_Omar._ Ten thousand sequins?--You're not talking nonsense, brother? _Mah._ No, Omar, I know what that sum is very well; and just so much, and not one sequin less, can save me from the most disgraceful poverty. _Omar._ Ten thousand sequins? _Mah._ Give them to me, brother; I will do my utmost to return them to you in a short time. _Omar._ Where are they to come from? I have much due to me that is still unpaid; I don't myself know what I am to do,--this very day I have been cheated of a hundred sequins. _Mah._ Your credit will easily procure me this amount. _Omar._ But not a soul will lend money now. There's mistrust on all sides; not that I am mistrustful, heaven knows, but every one would guess that I want the money for you; and you know best on what frail threads one's confidence in a merchant often hangs. _Mah._ Dear Omar, I must confess I didn't expect these demurs from you. If we were to change sides, you would not find me so suspicious and dilatory. _Omar._ So you say. I am not suspicious either; I wish I could help you. I call God to witness, how glad I should be. _Mah._ You can, if you like. _Omar._ All I have would not make the sum you require. _Mah._ O heavens! I had reproached myself for not making my brother the first of whom I asked assistance; and I am truly sorry that I have burdened him with a single word. _Omar._ You are angry; you are wrong in being so. _Mah._ Wrong? which of us neglects his duty? Ah, brother, I don't know you! _Omar._ I have just lost a hundred sequins to-day; another three hundred are not at all safe, and I must make up my mind to the loss of them. If you had but come to me last week,--oh, yes, then most heartily. _Mah._ Must I then remind you of our former friendship? Ah! how low can misfortune degrade us! _Omar._ You talk, brother, almost as if you wished to insult me. _Mah._ Insult you? _Omar._ When one does all one can,--when one is in distress oneself, and in hourly fear of losing more,--can a man in such a case help being vexed when he receives nothing but bitter mockery and abject contempt for all his good-will? _Mah._ Shew me your good-will, and you shall receive my warmest thanks. _Omar._ Doubt of it no longer, or you will enrage me; I can keep cool a long time, and bear a good deal, but when I am irritated in such a deliberate way---- _Mah._ I see how it is, Omar; you play the insulted man, only to have a better excuse for breaking friends with me entirely. _Omar._ You would never have thought of such a thing, if you were not caught in such paltry tricks yourself. We are most prone to suspect others of those vices with which we are most familiar ourselves. _Mah._ No, Omar;--but since such language as yours encourages me to boast,--I must say, I didn't act so towards you, when you came, a poor stranger, to Bagdad. _Omar._ And so for the five hundred sequins which you then gave me, you want ten thousand from me now.