During all the hours I have spent in your house not a creature has touched anything . ' ` No , ' answered the old woman , ` we are not eating anything . ' ` And why not , good mother ? ' ` Because we have no money to buy any food . ' ` Is it your custom never to eat ? ' ` No , for every morning I go into the city to sell my veils , and with the few shillings I get for them I buy all we want . To-day I did not cross the bridge , so of course I had nothing for food . ' ` Then I am the cause of your having gone hungry all day ? ' asked the head . ` Yes , you are , ' answered the old woman . ` Well , then , I will give you money and plenty of it , if you will only do as I tell you . In an hour , as the clock strikes twelve , you must be on the bridge at the place where you met me . When you get there call out `` Ahmed , '' three times , as loud as you can . Then a negro will appear , and you must say to him : `` The head , your master , desires you to open the trunk , and to give me the green purse which you will find in it . '' ' ` Very well , my lord , ' said the old woman , ' I will set off at once for the bridge . ' And wrapping her veil round her she went out . Midnight was striking as she reached the spot where she had met the head so many hours before . ` Ahmed ! Ahmed ! Ahmed ! '
cried she , and immediately a huge negro , as tall as a giant , stood XXXXX the bridge before her .
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