One day, Tamerlane and Hodja together go to the hamam. While bathing, out of the clear blue, His Highness demands, “If I were a serf for sale, how much would you bid?”
Hodja knows neither cowardice nor shyness. First he pretends to ponder. Then with customary slyness, “If you ask me,” he says, “I would bid a hundred quid.”
Tamerlane says, “You must be insane! One towel here alone is worth at least a hundred.” Hodja bows and says to Tamerlane, “In fact, it was the towel for which I made my bid.”