IX.
The Magician and the Sultan’s Son.
There was once a sultan who had three little sons, and no one seemed to be able to teach them anything; which greatly grieved both the sultan and his wife.
One day a magician came to the sultan and said, “If I take your three boys and teach them to read and write, and make great scholars of them, what will you give me?”
And the sultan said, “I will give you half of my property.”
“No,” said the magician; “that won’t do.”
“I’ll give you half of the towns I own.”
“No; that will not satisfy me.”