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was a great merchant, and very wealthy, and he was the sultan's vizir. And he lived amongst his business, and had one son. And the name of that son was Ali. And when his child had reached his five and twentieth year, the father died. And he was left with his mother.

And Ali inherited his property, and spent his property very fast. At last Ali had spent all and was exceedingly poor, there was no one in that town would know him, neither friends of his own, nor those of his father. And he was still a young man, and he walked about in the town.

Every one who saw Ali used to ask him, "What have you done with your property, Ali, that you have lost it all so quickly? For your father left much wealth, and if you had been wise, you would have had it still." And Ali said, "He who does not know the meaning of it, will not be told."

And this speech of his was his employment. Every one that asked him, he used to say, "He who does not know the meaning of it, will not be told." Till throughout the town people knew that Ali, if one asked him, "What have you done with your property?" used to say, "He that does not know the meaning of it, will not be told."

And the words reached the sultan. And people told