I said that liquor taken in quantity would kill a man.
"So will one bullet!" he answered.

"But, whereas a bullet in the belly causes pain before death, moiyit ilfadda (aqua fortis) causes pleasure; and a man dies either way." He turned to go, rattling two rifle-butts against the door, but I had one last try to get on terms and said I hoped to see him at breakfast, or shortly afterward.
"God is the giver both of eyesight and the things to see," he answered.

"I go to pray.

God will guide my footsteps afterward." I did not feel I had really made much headway, but I fared rather better with my host downstairs, who either did not pray with such enthusiasm or else had forestalled the muezzin.

At any rate, he was waiting for me near a table spread with sweet cakes and good French coffee.