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When this personage saw my brother he stood up to him and

welcomed him and asked him of his case; whereto he replied that

he was in want and needed charity. Hearing these words the

grandee showed great concern and, putting his hand to his fine

robe, rent it exclaiming, "What! am I in a City, and thou here an

hungered? I have not patience to bear such disgrace!" Then he

promised him all manner of good cheer and said, "There is no help

but that thou stay with me and eat of my salt."[FN#686] "O my

lord," answered my brother, "I can wait no longer; for I am

indeed dying of hunger." So he cried, "Ho boy! bring basin and

ewer;" and, turning to my brother, said, "O my guest come forward

and wash thy hands." My brother rose to do so but he saw neither

ewer nor basin; yet his host kept washing his hands with

invisible soap in imperceptible water and cried, "Bring the

table!" But my brother again saw nothing.