"May I eat dirt if it be not true! Then, towards morning, being chastened by blisters, her heart melted: so she buried the treasure instead of me. That is how it came about."
Suttu could not resist a smile.
"But the treasure, fool--the treasure?"
Shâhbâsh, dancing round her, flourished a coin, which she snatched from him hastily.
"Lo!" she cried, in tones of disappointment, "'tis only a farthing."
"Only a farthing!" echoed Shâhbâsh, ironically. "Hark to the incredulous. Aye, but it means gold close at hand. Dost not know that wise men put pennies when they take pounds, so that the jinn who guards the treasure may find the tale true when he counts the coins?"
Suttu's hand went up swiftly to her forehead; she gave a little cry.
"Dost mean they put farthings in place of gold?"
"Aye! Sure, a coin is a coin to the jinn, and when the last gold bit is gone he sits guarding a pot of farthings till judgment. Ho, ho!--ha, ha!"
His mirth left Suttu smileless.