“You know that my ear is open to all,” answered Harun. “But perhaps the proofs of the theft were so clear that you did not think it necessary to bring him to me. You had doubtless witnesses, Kalum, to prove that the money really was yours?”
“Witnesses?” he asked, turning pale, “no I had no witness, for you know, Ruler of the Faithful, that one piece of gold is exactly like another, so how could I bring witnesses to prove that these actual pieces were missing from my money chest?”
“Then how did you know that that particular sum of money belonged to you?” asked the Caliph.
“On account of the purse they were in,” said Kalum.
“Have you got the purse here?” he enquired further.
“Here it is,” said the merchant, and taking out a purse he handed it to the Grand Vizier that he might give it to the Caliph.
But the Vizier cried out in feigned astonishment, “By the beard of the Prophet! The purse is yours? You dog! The purse belonged to me and I gave it filled with a hundred gold pieces to a brave young man who rescued me from a great danger.”
“Can you swear to that?” asked the Caliph.
“I am perfectly certain,” replied the Vizier, “my daughter worked it for me.”
“Ah, you have received false information, magistrate,” said the Caliph. “Why did you believe the purse belonged to Kalum?”