"Then, where are these treasures of thine?" asked Ali, exceedingly amazed.
"Why, with thee, of course," replied Muhzin.
Ali Hojia shook his head. "Muhzin, my friend, thy misfortunes have robbed thee of thy wits, so that thou knowest not what thou sayest. Thou hast just told me that thou wert robbed on thy journey, and now thou sayest I have treasures of thine which I have never seen. I tell thee what—go now and have a little sleep and clear thy mind somewhat. After that I will gladly see thee again."
And with that worthy Hojia very gently pushed Muhzin from his door, and shut it in his face.
The unfortunate merchant now fell into absolute despair. He himself began to doubt whether he was in his senses, or whether he had indeed turned crazy, and the hidden treasure was a dream, a phantom, like the rest.
In his despair he flew to the Grand Vizier, cast himself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
"Hast thou a witness who saw thee give thy treasures to Hojia?" inquired the Grand Vizier.
"Allah alone, none other. Truly we were such good friends, one body and one soul."
"Then keep still till I have spoken to the Sultan."
When the Grand Vizier had spoken to the Sultan about the matter, Soliman commanded him to proclaim at every corner of every street, through the public criers, that a certain merchant, Muhzin by name, recently returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca, had drowned himself at night in the Bosphorus. His dead body had been found by the fishermen; if, therefore, the dead man had any friends or relations who wished to bury him with due respect, they were to come for him, otherwise the corpse would be buried in the common cemetery reserved for the poor.