The theft was discovered when the merchant was about to pay the money for the cattle. The robber assumed the rôle of the sympathising friend, and suggested that a mistake might have been made by the merchant’s wife, and the wrong bag given to him. The merchant went home to inquire about it, and on his return the robber ran up to him, and embraced and kissed him, saying, “Hallo, Friend! I am very glad to see you again. I hope you have succeeded in finding your money.” As he said this he put back the purse, and took the bag of oranges.
The merchant replied, “I hope God will hear what you say.”
The thief said, “You are playing me a trick; put your hand in your pocket, and feel if your purse is not there.”
So he put his hand in his breast pocket, and found his bag of money there. The thief explained the matter, and requested him to relate the particulars to the girl, who then decided that she would marry this thief.
I give the rest of the story in full, as it was dictated to me:—
The second thief said, “Oh! that is nothing. I can play a better trick than that. Will you be kind enough to come to-morrow morning to the Government offices to see me?” The merchant man said, “I also will come to see the trick.” Then the merchant went away, and the three remained there till evening.
After dinner, the second robber went out to the café to spend the time, and there he met one of the higher class people. The robber said, “Salām,” and sat down next this merchant. They both smoked hashish together, and the thief told him, “I have just arrived from outside the city. The four gates are now shut, and I cannot return. I do not know where to go to sleep.”
The merchant told him, “Don’t you feel ashamed to say that to me when you know what size my house is?”
The robber said, “Thank you for the favour,” and at the end of their smoke they went together to the merchant’s house. When the two entered, lights were put in the writing room, with two beds for them, so that they might sleep together there.
While the merchant was fast asleep and snoring, the robber awoke, and took the key of the money-box and the seal from the merchant’s pocket, opened the box, counted the money, wrote a promissory note giving the amount of each kind of money, signed it with the merchant’s seal, and put all back again as before, keeping the note. He then went to sleep again.