Thereupon the nine blind men on the opposite shore set up a lamentable wail, crying, "What has happened, O Khoja?"
"One penny less to pay than you expected," said the Khoja.
Tale 35.—The End of the World.
Now Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had a lamb which he brought up and fattened with much care.
Some of his friends were very desirous to get hold of this lamb and make a feast of it. So they came to the Khoja and begged him earnestly to give up the lamb for a feast, but the Khoja would not consent.
At last one day came one of them and said, "O Khoja! to-morrow is the end of the world. What will you do with this lamb on the last day? We may as well eat it this evening."
"If it be so, let us do as you say," replied the Khoja, for he thought that the man was in earnest. So they lighted the fire and roasted the lamb, and had an excellent feast. But the Khoja perceived that they had played a trick upon him.
By and by his friends went to some little distance to play games together, but the Khoja would not accompany them, so they left their upper garments in his charge and departed to their amusements.