ies into his turban,
hurried away beaming with happiness at the thought that for ten
thousand rupees he had become lord of ten villages. The rajah was also
equally pleased, and strolled off with his new purchases to the
women's quarters and showed them to the queen, who was nearly out of
her mind with delight. Then, as she turned them over and over in her
hands, she said: 'Ah! if I had eight more such gems, what a necklace
they would make! Get me eight more of them or I shall die!'

'Most unreasonable of women,' cried the rajah, 'where am I to get
eight more such jewels as these? I gave ten villages for them, and yet
you are not satisfied!'

'What does it matter?' said the rani; 'do you want me to die? Surely
you can get some more where these came from?' And then she fell to
weeping and wailing until the rajah promised that in the morning he
would make arrangements to get some more such rubies, and that if she
would be patient she should have her desire.

In the morning the rajah sent for the wazir, and said that he must
manage to get eight more rubies like those he had brought him the day
before, 'and if you don't I shall hang you,' cried the rajah, for he
was very cross. The poor wazir protested in vain that he knew not
where to seek them; his master would not listen to a word he said.

'You _must_,' said he; 'the rani shall not die for the want of a few
rubies! Get more where those came from.'

* * * * *

The wazir left the palace, much troubled in mind, and bade his slaves
bring Lena before him. 'Get me eight more such rubies as those you
brought yesterday,' commanded the wazir, directly the banker was shown
into his presence. 'Eight more, and be quick, or I am a dead man.'

'But how can I?' wailed Lena; 'rubies like those don't grow upon
bushes!'

'Where did you get them from?' asked the wazir.

'From Dena, the oil-seller,' said the banker.

'Well, send for him and ask him where _he_ got them,' answered the
wazir. 'I am not going to hang for twenty Denas!' And more slaves were
sent to summon Dena.

When Dena arrived he was closely questioned, and then all three
started to see the rajah, and to him Dena told the whole story.

'What night was it that you slept in the peepul tree?' demanded the
rajah.

'I can't remember,' said Dena; 'but my wife will know.'

Then Dena's wife was sent for, and she explained that it was on the
last Sunday of the new moon.

Now everyone