“I am tempted to mention another matter more personal to myself,” continued Shaphan. “I have already said that Jesus called us by our names. We found the next day that he knew more about us than our names. As my brother and myself were sitting by the wayside, Jesus came to us and said:
“‘You are troubled. When you reach home look again for the missing document and you will find it.’
“And truly we were in trouble. When we were children our father was in partnership with a young man. But this young man gradually drew off into other business, and at length sold his interest in the khan to my father, who paid him for it in full and took from him a paper acknowledging the fact. In process of time this paper was lost. Of late this loss has somehow come to the knowledge of the man, and he now claims that he has never received payment, and demands both the principal and the interest on it for more than thirty years. To pay this sum would ruin us. We had been again and again to our oppressor to ask for mercy. But in vain. So we were in deep waters when Jesus put out his hand and drew us out. For since my return I have found the missing paper.”
“Who is this oppressor?”
“Malus.”
“Has he already begun a suit against you?”
“No: but he threatens to do so within a short time, unless payment is made.”
“Can it be that he is honest, and has merely forgotten?”
“He does not say that he does not remember having received the money. He absolutely denies having received it—could make oath to that effect; has a perfect recollection of all the circumstances, and has only been prevented from pressing his claim during all these years by tenderness of heart.”