‘He was a doctor, and the king of a certain country called him to treat his ailment. The sage refused. Then the King ordered soldiers to seize the doctor, and to bring him to his presence.
‘When they were face to face, the King said, “I have brought you here, bound hand and foot, to treat me, for I am suffering from an unaccountable paralysis. If you cure me, I shall reward you, if you do not, I shall have you beheaded.’
‘The doctor said: “Let us be placed, together, in a room from which all other persons have been excluded.”
‘When they were alone, the sage brought out a knife, and said: “Now I shall take my revenge for the insult of your having treated me with such violence.” And he advanced upon the King. Terrified out of his wits, the King leapt up and ran around the room, forgetting his paralysis in his anxiety to escape from the Sufi. :As he cried for the guards, the Sufi ran to a window and fled. The King was cured by the only method which could have availed. But he nurtured a grievance against the Sufi for many years, such is the peculiarity of men who think that “deceit” is always evil.’
