They questioned me about my country, about the great world beyond the mountains, about the way in which I had come here, about the manners and customs of my countrymen.

They were eager to know about those great nations of which I spoke, who loved light and life; about men who loved themselves better than others; of that world where men feared death and loved life, and sought after riches and lived in the light.
The sleeping-time came and passed, and my visitors were still full of eager questionings.

It was Layelah who at last thought of the lateness of the hour.

At a word from her the Kohen Gadol rose, with many apologies, and prepared to go.

But before he left he said: "When I was a child I was shipwrecked, and was taken up a ship which conveyed me to a nation beyond the sea.