When we arrived at his "caf,," we stopped and climbed out of the carriage. He rushed outside; and with an exaggerated deep bow, he asked about our "orders." Mustafa Bustani first ordered five cups of coffee, then five more; for a third time, he ordered still another five. Altogether, that came to fifteen cups. The man melted into a downcast spirit; he knew that Mustafa Bustani was no foreigner and that he often stopped here on his business trips to Hebron. So, he could not treat him like a European. When we were preparing to leave and climbing into our carriage, I took out my money pouch. The shop owner's face completely lit up. I asked how much it cost for the fifteen cups of coffee. "Give what you wish," he said. "I'll only pay the price that you demand," I declared.
This accomplished nothing. He absolutely refused to set a price. So when I threatened to pay him nothing if he wouldn't give me a price, he simply answered with this: "OK, I'll give them to you as a present." This trick had always worked for him. He assumed that no European would allow him to give away his coffee. So, I acted just as he expected. Appearing to be overwhelmed with his generosity, I gave him a franc. In Palestine, the franc is the most prized silver coin. He looked at it, then handed it back to me and said: "I'm giving the money back to you." After taking the coin back, I first gave him two, then three francs. Once again, he declined the money and repeated these words: "I give these as presents to you." I understood how this man operated; I knew just how far I could take this. His greed for money grew with every increase of my offer. I gave him four, then finally five francs. With this last sum, he closed his hand and made a movement as if he wanted to pocket the money. At the same time, he inquisitively looked at me.
I put on my most good-natured face and raised my hand as if to reach into my money bag once again. This was too much for him; he could not resist. In a tone of voice which made it seem that any payment for the coffee was simply impossible, he handed me the five francs: "I also give these to you!" Ever so slowly and in a way that would not diminish the pleasure of this scene, I took back the money, put the coins in my bag, and answered him: "So, I give in to your kindness, and I accept your present. I thank you. Live long and well! May Allah bless you and your house for your noble generosity towards all foreign guests!"