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fiction turn these things out so much better。 For instance； my
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neighbours tell me wonderful； incredible things that their Aberdeens and
chows and borzois have done； I never listen to them。 On the other hand；
I have read 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' three times。〃
The greybeard moved uneasily in his seat； then he opened up new
country。
〃I take it that you are a professing Christian；〃 he observed。
〃I am a prominent and I think I may say an influential member of the
Mussulman community of Eastern Persia；〃 said Crosby； making an
excursion himself into the realms of fiction。
The greybeard was obviously disconcerted at this new check to
introductory conversation； but the defeat was only momentary。
〃Persia。 I should never have taken you for a Persian；〃 he remarked；
with a somewhat aggrieved air。
〃I am not；〃 said Crosby； 〃my father was an Afghan。〃
〃An Afghan！〃 said the other； smitten into bewildered silence for a
moment。 Then he recovered himself and renewed his attack。
〃Afghanistan。 Ah！ We've had some wars with that country； now；
I daresay； instead of fighting it we might have learned something from it。
A very wealthy country； I believe。 No real poverty there。〃
He raised his voice on the word 〃poverty〃 with a suggestion of
intense feeling。 Crosby saw the opening and avoided it。
〃It possesses； nevertheless； a number of highly talented and
ingenious beggars；〃 he said； 〃if I had not spoken so disparagingly of
marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of
Ibrahim and the eleven camel…loads of blotting…paper。 Also I have
forgotten exactly how it ended。〃
〃My own life…story is a curious one；〃 said the stranger； apparently
stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim； 〃I was not always as you
see me now。〃
〃We are supposed to undergo complete change in the course of every
seven years；〃 said Crosby； as an explanation of the foregoing
announcement。
〃I mean I was not always in such distressing circumstances as I am
at present；〃 pursued the stranger doggedly。
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〃That sounds rather rude；〃 said Crosby stiffly； 〃considering that you
are at present talking to a man reputed to be one of the most gifted
conversationalists of the Afghan border。〃
〃I don't mean in that way；〃 said the greybeard hastily； 〃I've been very
much interested in your conversation。 I was alluding to my unfortunate
financial situation。 You mayn't hardly believe it； but at the present
moment I am absolutely without a farthing。 Don't see any prospect of
getting any money； either； for the next few days。 I don't suppose you've
ever found yourself in such a position；〃 he added。
〃In the town of Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃which is in Southern
Afghanistan； and which also happens to be my birthplace； there was a
Chinese philosopher who used to say that one of the three chiefest
human blessings was to be absolutely without money。 I forget what the
other two were。〃
〃Ah； I daresay；〃 said the stranger； in a tone that betrayed no
enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory； 〃and did he practise what he
preached？ That's the test。〃
〃He lived happily with very little money or resources；〃 said Crosby。
〃Then I expect he had friends who would help him liberally
whenever he was in difficulties； such as I am in at present。〃
〃In Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃it is not necessary to have friends in order to
obtain help。 Any citizen of Yom would help a stranger as a matter of
course。〃
The greybeard was now genuinely interested。
The conversation had at last taken a favourable turn。
〃If someone； like me； for instance； who was in undeserved
difficulties； asked a citizen of that town you speak of for a small loan to
tide over a few days' impecuniosity … five shillings； or perhaps a rather
larger sum … would it be given to him as a matter of course？〃
〃There would be a certain preliminary；〃 said Crosby； 〃one would
take him to a wine…shop and treat him to a measure of wine； and then；
after a little high…flown conversation； one would put the desired sum in
his hand and wish him good…day。 It is a roundabout way of
performing a simple transaction； but in the East all ways are
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roundabout。〃
The listener's eyes were glittering。
〃Ah；〃 he exclaimed； with a thin sneer ringing meaningly through his
words； 〃I suppose you've given up all those generous customs since you
left your town。 Don't practise them now； I expect。〃
〃No one who has lived in Yom；〃 said Crosby fervently； 〃and
remembers its green hills covered with apricot and almond trees； and the
cold water that rushes down like a caress from the upland snows and
dashes under the little wooden bridges； no one who remembers these
things and treasures the memory of them would ever give up a single
one of its unwritten laws and customs。 To me they are as binding as
though I still lived in that hallowed home of my youth。〃
〃Then if I was to ask you for a small loan … 〃 began the greybeard
fawningly； edging nearer on the seat and hurriedly wondering how large
he might safely make his request； 〃if I was to ask you for； say … 〃
〃At any other time； certainly；〃 said Crosby； 〃in the months of
November and December； however； it is absolutely forbidden for anyone
of our race to