“Such is the frailty of human nature that perhaps the recognition of my good deed would have been less frank, or less simple, had the Council themselves been compelled to find the money out of their own pockets. But there was no question of this. The burden must fall, as was only just, upon the whole body of citizens, since all used the bridge. My proposal met therefore with enthusiastic assent from every side, and one speaker in the ensuing debate (a friend who, in his humble way, was associated with other of my lesser enterprises) pointed out what I could not in decency have alluded to, that I also was a taxpayer, and a large one; so that any public payment was borne partly by myself. The Sheik, in closing the discussion, after a few compliments which my natural modesty forbids me to repeat, said that clearly nothing was now left but to make a computation—a mere matter of book-keeping—and that this detail might safely be left to a small committee of three, which was nominated upon the spot; their work was of course honorary, for they were men of high standing; but I saw to it that all their expenses and other disbursements should be met and I gave them much hospitality. The Committee met at intervals during the ensuing three weeks. I appeared frequently before this Committee in the capacity of witness, I produced all my books and had, I am glad to say, the restraint and good feeling to let things take their course and not to haggle as though this great public settlement had been a private commercial deal. It is enough to say that at the end of this proceeding the sum of 1,400,000 dinars was awarded to me by the arbitrators and that I, after protesting against what I called the excessive generosity of the State, then added to my popularity by erecting at my own charges a fine gate of entry at the city end of the bridge which absorbed half the odd 400,000; the other half I gave in a burst of generosity to the members of the committee: not of course in their public capacity but privately, as being my personal friends, and in reward for their untiring public spirit.
“I was left with a million.
“I was fully content.
“I desired no more.”
“But, uncle,” timidly interrupted the eldest of the nephews, “I am puzzled by one thing. Will you allow me to ask you a question upon it?”
“Certainly, my dear lad,” said the old man, stroking his beard and awaiting the query.
“Why, uncle,” said the boy, still hesitating somewhat, “it is this. I do not quite see how it came that you should have a million dinars. You came to this place with half a million, how then did it become one million?”
The folly of the question raised a titter from his brothers, who had always regarded their senior as the least brilliant of their clan. But their uncle was more lenient and checked their mirth (which was especially loud in the youngest), and said:
“My dear boy, do you see anything extraordinary in an accretion of fortune to a man who served the community so well?”
“No, not exactly that,” said the elder nephew, still hesitating, “far from it, dear uncle; but what I do not quite clearly see is where the other half-million came from.”