another residence.

The next day Ali Cogia went to see his friend the merchant, who
received him with open arms, testifying the utmost joy at seeing him
again, after an absence of so many years, which he said almost made
him despair of ever beholding him any more.

After the usual compliments, Ali Cogia begged the merchant to return
him the jar of olives which he had left in his care, at the same time
apologizing for having troubled him. "My dear friend," replied the
merchant, "do not think of making excuses; your jar has been no
encumbrance to me, and I should have done the same with you had I been
situated as you were. Here is the key of my warehouse, go and take it;
you will find it where you put it yourself."

Ali Cogia went to the warehouse and took out the jar, and having given
the key to the merchant, he thanked him for the favor he had done him,
and returned to the khan where he lodged. He opened the jar, and,
thrusting his hand to the depth where he supposed the thousand pieces
of gold might be, he was extremely surprised at not feeling them. He
thought he must be deceived, and to relieve his doubts he took some of
the dishes and other utensils of his travelling kitchen and emptied
out all the olives without finding one single piece of money. He was
motionless with astonishment, and raising his eyes and hands towards
heaven, "Is it possible," he at length exclaimed, "that a man whom I
considered as my friend could be capable of so flagrant a breach of
trust?"

Ali Cogia, exceedingly alarmed at the idea of so considerable a loss,
returned to the merchant. "My good friend," said he, "do not be
surprised that I should return to you so quickly; I confess that I
knew the jar of olives which I just now took out of your warehouse to
be mine; but I had put a thousand pieces of gold in it with the
olives, and these I cannot find; perhaps you have wanted them in your
trade, and have made use of them. If that be the case, they are much
at your service; I only beg of you to relieve my fears, and give me
some acknowledgment for them; after this you will return them to me
whenever it may be most convenient."

The merchant, who expected Ali Cogia to return to him, had prepared an
answer. "My friend," replied he, "when you brought me the jar of
olives, did I touch it? Did I not give you the key of my wareroom? Did
you not deposit it there yourself? and did you not find it in the same
place where you put it, exactly in th