human
Then you mean to say, the Masdakite began once more,
gpt
Yes indeed, Rustem; I should be very sorry.
human
Oh! said the other, passing his hand over his big head, on which the dense mane of hair which had been shaved off was beginning to grow again.
gpt
Well then, Mandane, in that case--I wanted to say it yesterday, but I could not get it out.--Tell me: why would you be sorry if I were to leave you?
human
Because--well, no one can have all their reasons ready; because you have always been kind to me; and because you came from my country, and talk Persian with me as my mother used.
gpt
Is that all?
human
No, no. Because--if once you go away, you will not be here.
gpt
Aye that is it; that is just the thing. And if you would be sorry for that, then you must have liked being here--with me.
human
And why not? It has been very nice,
gpt
That it has--and that it is! cried Rustem, striking his palm with the other huge fist.
human
And that is why I must have it out; that is why, if we have any sense, we two need never part.
gpt
But your master is sure to want you, said she with growing confusion,
human
Nursing myself! and he laughed gaily.
gpt
I will earn money, and enough for three!
human
By your camels always, up and down the country?
gpt
I have done with that, said he with a grin.
human
We will go back to our own country; there I will buy a good piece of pasture land, for my eldest brother has our little estate, and you may ask Haschim whether I understand camel-breeding.
gpt
But Rustem, consider.
human
Consider! Think this, and think that! Where there's a will there's a way. That is the upshot of it all. And if you mean to say that before you buy you must have money, and that the best may come to grief, all I can tell you is... Can you read? No? nor I; but here in my pocket I have my accounts in the master's own hand. Eleven thousand, three hundred and sixty drachmae were due to me for wages the last time we reckoned: all the profit the master had set down to my credit since I led his caravan. He has kept almost all of it for me; for food was allowed, and there was almost always a bit of stuff for a garment to be found among the bales, and I never was a sot. Eleven thousand, three hundred and sixty drachmae! Hey, little one, that is the figure. And now what do you say? Can we buy something with that? Yes or no?
gpt
Yes, yes indeed; and in our country I think something worth having.
human
And we--you and I--we will begin a quite new life. I was seventeen when I first set out with my master, and I was twenty-six last midsummer. How many years wandering does that make?
gpt
If I am not mistaken it is eight.
human
I believe it is nine, he exclaimed.
gpt
Let us see. Here, give me your little paw! There, I begin with seventeen, that is where I started. First your little-finger--what a mite of a thing, and then the rest. He took her right hand and counted off her fingers till he ended with the last finger of the left. The result puzzled him; he shook his head, saying:
human
There are ten fingers on both hands, sure enough, and yet it cannot be ten years; it is nine at most I know.