tion; and the poverty
of the Khoja was a satisfaction to him. When he heard what the Khoja
said he chuckled to himself, saying, "Truly this Khoja is a funny
fellow, and it would be a droll thing to see him refuse nine hundred and
ninety-nine pieces of gold. For without doubt he would keep his word."

And as he spoke, the Jew put nine hundred and ninety-nine gold pieces
into a purse, and dropped the purse down the Khoja's chimney, with the
intention of giving him annoyance.

The Khoja picked up the purse and opened it.

"Allah be praised!" he cried, "for the fulfilment of my desires. Here
are the thousand pieces."

Meanwhile the Jew was listening at the chimney-top, and he heard the
Khoja begin to count the coins. When he got to the nine hundred and
ninety-ninth, and had satisfied himself that there was not another, he
paused, and the Jew merchant held his breath.

At last the Khoja spoke.

"O my soul!" said he, "is it decent to spit in the face of good fortune
for the sake of one gold piece in a thousand? Without doubt it is an
oversight, and he who sent these will send the missing one also." Saying
which, the Khoja put the money into his sash and sat down to smoke.

The Jew now became fidgety, and he hastened down to the Khoja's door, at
which he knocked, and entering, said, "Good-day, Khoja Effendi. May I
ask you to be good enough to restore to me my nine hundred and
ninety-nine gold pieces?"

"Are you mad, O Jew money-lender?" replied the Khoja. "Is it likely
that you would throw gold down my chimney? These pieces fell from heaven
in fulfilment of my lawful desires."

"O my soul, Khoja!" cried the Jew, "I did it, indeed! It was a jest, O
Khoja! You said, 'I will not take one less than a thousand,' wherefore I
put nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces in the purse, and it was for a
joke."

"I do not see the joke," said the Khoja, "but I have accepted the gold
pieces." And he went on smoking.

The Jew money-lender now became desperate.

"Let us go to the magistrate," he cried. "The Cadi Effendi shall decide
between us."

"It is well said," replied the Khoja. "But it would not beseem a Khoja
like myself to go through the public streets to the court on foot; and I
am poor, and have no mule."

"O my soul!" said the Jew, "let not that trouble you. I will send and
fetch one of my mules."

But when the mule was at the door, the Khoja said: "Is it fitting, O
money-lender, that a Khoja like myself should appe