Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/150

106 Alaeddin knew it not) went with it to the market, where a Jew, a man viler than devils themselves, accosted him and he gave him the platter. When the Jew saw it, he took Alaeddin aside, so none might see him, and examining the platter, found it of fine gold, but knew not if Alaeddin was ware of its worth or if he was ignorant thereof; so he said to him, “How much, O my lord, for this platter?” And Alaeddin answered him, saying, “Thou knowest how much it is worth.” The Jew was perplexed how much he should give Alaeddin for the platter, by reason of his having made him an adroit answer, and bethought himself to give him little, but feared lest he should be aware of its value and debated with himself if he should give him much. Then said he in himself, “Most like he knoweth not its value;” so he brought out of his pocket a gold dinar and gave it to him. When Alaeddin saw the dinar in his hand, he took it and went off in haste, whereby the Jew knew that the lad was unaware of the value of the plate and repented him sore that he had given him a gold dinar and not a carat of three-score:three-score. [sic]