Allah! Allah! What have I done that every soul that eats my bread should spy and pry on me ?" Satisfied with this explanation of Israel's conduct, Ben Aboo waited for no further assurance, but fell to a wild outburst of mingled prayers and protests.

"O Giver of Good to all! O Creator! It is Abd er-Rahman again.
Ya Allah! Ya Allah! Or else his rapacious satellites--his thieves, his robbers, his cut-throats! That bloated Vizier! That leprous Naib es-Sultan! Oh, I know them.

Bismillah! They want to fleece me.

They want to squeeze me of my little wealth--my just savings--my hard earnings after my long service.

Curse them! Curse their relations! O Merciful! O Compassionate! They'll call it arrears of taxes.