The second man then spoke up and said, "It is true that I sold him the
ground, but I did not reserve anything he might find in it. The
treasure is not mine, and therefore I am unwilling to take it."

The shah sat silent for a while, as if in thought. Then he said to the
first man, "Have you a son?"

"Yes, a young man of promise," was the answer.

The shah turned to the second man: "Have you a daughter?"

"I have," answered the man, "--a beautiful girl."

"Well, then, this is my judgment. Let the son marry the daughter, if
both agree, and give them the treasure as a wedding portion."

Alexander listened with great interest. "You have judged wisely and
rightly," said he to the shah, "but in my own country we should have
done differently."

"What would you have done?"

"Well, we should have thrown both men into prison, and the treasure
would have been given to the king."

"And is that what you call justice?" asked the shah.

"We call it policy," said Alexander.

"Then let me ask you a question," said the shah. "Does the sun shine