Once upon a time it came to pass that the rabbis desired to obtain a favor from a heathen lady. She was a very important person and all the great men of Rome used to visit her. The rabbis discussed among themselves who should go on that errand. Then Rabbi Joshua said, "I will go."

So Rabbi Joshua went there accompanied by his pupils. When they came within a distance of four cubits of the house of the lady, Rabbi Joshua took off his tefillin (phylacteries), entered the house, locked the door behind him, and would not allow his pupils to follow him.

When he came out, he went to the bathhouse, took a bath, and then went to study with his pupils. He said to them, "Dear friends, did you suspect me of anything when you saw me taking off my tefillin?"

The pupils replied, "What could we suspect you of? We thought you had taken off your tefillin because it is forbidden to take a holy object into an unclean place."

Then he said, "Did you suspect me of anything when I locked the door in your face?"

They replied, "We thought you had to discuss with her a matter which concerns the king, and you wanted to speak with her privately."

"And when I took the bath, did you think anything about it?"

And they replied, "We thought perhaps some of the spittle of her mouth had fallen on your garments, and it was therefore necessary for you to take a bath."

Then Rabbi Joshua replied, "I swear that it was exactly as you thought. And as you never suspected me of anything wrong, so may the Lord, blessed be He, also look upon your work with favor. Amen."