Tamerlane was out hunting when night fell. He signaled the party to stop and make camp. As he and a few courtiers sat around the campfire, he called on each man to tell a story. And he started his narrative first. Before he was more than a few words into the story, a burning ember flew from the flames and settled on the ruler’s mighty turban. “Master,” said Nasrudin seeing the smoke curling from the royal headgear. “Master!” snapped Tamerlane, much annoyed by the Mulla’s interruption. “I am not a mere master, but the King of Kings, the Conqueror of the World, the Ruler of the Universe!” “Please excuse me,” murmured Nasrudin and politely held his tongue.

From Idries Shah’s The World of Nasrudin, London: The Octagon Press, 2003, p. 307.