How can I repay when ill fate pursues me?
drives me mad. Once they had much money and were my good customers, but ill times came upon them. She has a son of whom she would make a merchant. So she came to me and borrowed gold that he might become a partner of a caravan owner who travels with his camels bartering in one city what he buys in another.
This man was a rascal for he left the poor boy in a distant city without money and without friends, pulling out early while the youth still slept. Perhaps when this youth has grown to manhood he will repay, until then I get no rental for the loan, only much talk. But I do admit the jewels are worthy of the loan.”
“Did this lady ask thy advice as to the wisdom of the loan?”
“Quite otherwise. She had pictured to herself this son of hers as a wealthy and powerful man of Babylon. To suggest the contrary was to infuriate her. A fair rebuke I had. I knew the risk for this inexperienced boy, but as she offered security I could not refuse her.”
“This,” continued Mathon, waving a bit of pack rope tied into a knot, “belongs to Nebatur, the camel trader. When he would buy a herd larger than his funds he brings to me this knot and I loan to him ac-—27—
