“Have I a good horse? I keep nothing else, young sir! Come to the stalls!”
He led the way with alacrity. He pointed to a large animal, saying, “This one is good in bottom and long in legs. He will carry your insignificant weight all night. Here is a Nicæan steed; but he is a fierce animal and will not brook punishment of whip or spur. Speak gently to him and he will carry you a week without rest. But he surely is beyond your price!”
“What is his price? I doubt that he has such mettle as you think.”
“Fifty Lydian staters is his price. For riding him this night the price will be one Lydian stater, if you return him to me to-morrow without injury. Assuredly you may have a cheaper horse than this!”
“Extortioner! Twenty staters is more than a good price for that animal. I will surely report you to the governor of the market. Think you I know nothing of horses?”
The dealer spread out his hands and bowed as if in deep humility, saying: “I perceive your worship is well acquainted with horseflesh. Come, I will not haggle with you. Deposit your twenty staters in my hand and take him. But you will surely pay an additional stater for a fine saddle!”
“Verily you are an extortioner! But I will not haggle. One half-stater and no more! Make haste, since my lady-love will not wait for my coming too long!”
Athura took a handful of coins from a purse at her belt and counted it into the outstretched palm of the greedy dealer, whose eyes sparkled in triumph. The amount was a third more than the animal was worth. The horse was brought out, saddled and bridled, champing his bits and pawing the earth, impatient to be gone. Athura loved a good horse. She was an accomplished rider. She sprang lightly into the saddle and trotted away, shouting back at the dealer: “Farewell, son of Ahriman! Keep the gold should I not return. I may go on to Rhages before I come back.”
The dealer waved his hand in reply and said to his servant: “Young sprig! Thought he knew the prices of animals! Bah! But then, he has a good horse, even if he paid a stiff price. Who can he be? May the dogs bite him if he try to return that animal! See that you be ready to testify that this was a sale and not a letting. We shall not repurchase the horse.”
“Yea, verily, Master, it was a sale,” answered the servant. Then they retired to their couches well satisfied.