A Certain Shroff, bearing a bag of gold pieces, once passed by a company of thieves, and one of these sharpers said to the others, "I, and I only, have the power to steal that purse." So they asked, "How will you do it?"; and he answered, "Look you all!"; and followed the money changer, till he entered his house, when he threw the bag on a shelf and, being affected with diabetes, went into the chapel of ease to do his want, calling to the slave girl, "Bring me an ewer of water." She took the ewer and followed him to the privy, leaving the door open, whereupon the thief entered and, seizing the money bag, made off with it to his companions, to whom he told what had passed.—
When it was the Three Hundred and Forty fifth night
he said, "God willing! I will save both girl and purse." Then the prig went back to the Shroff's house and found him punishing the girl because of the purse; so he knocked at the door and the man said, "Who is there?" Cried the thief, "I am the servant of your neighbour in the Exchange;" whereupon he came out to him and said, "What is your business?" The thief replied, "My master saluts you and says to you: 'Surely you are deranged and thoroughly so, to cast the like of this bag of money down at the door of your shop and go away and leave it.' Had a stranger hit upon it he had made off with it and, except my master had seen it and taken care of it, it had assuredly been lost to you." So saying, he pulled out the purse and showed it to the Shroff who on seeing it said, "That is my very purse," and put out his hand to take it; but the thief said, "By God, I will not give you this same, till you write me a receipt declaring that you have received it! For indeed I fear my master will not believe that you have recovered the purse, unless I bring him your writing to that effect, and sealed with your signet seal" The money changer went in to write the paper required; and in the meantime the thief made off with the bag of money and Thus was the slave girl saved her beating. And men also tell a tale of