Whereupon James declared himself willing to take the ass.
"You may want him and I mayn't give him," said the old man with a cunning laugh.

"If anything happened to this animal I should never get over it.

It is no ordinary ass, my friend!" "It is no ordinary rider who needs him," said James.
The little old man took the disciple to the stable.

The animal stood by the manger, and was certainly of a good breed.

It was not gray, but rather bright brown and smooth, with slender legs, pretty, sharp-pointed ears, and long whiskers round its big intelligent eyes.
"Isn't it the colour of a thoroughbred Arab ?" said the old man.
"It's a beautiful creature," assented James.