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 him carry it into the market place and sell it. He took it into the market, and there they rubbed it upon the touchstone and found it pure gold, and the merchants bought it from them for fifteen thousand dirhams.

So Hasan rejoiced and took a metal mortar and returned to the shop and laid it before the Persian and said, "Let us put this in the fire and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed and said, "My son, have the Jinns made thee mad that thou wouldst go down into the market with two ingots of gold in one day? People will say these men practice alchemy, and the judges will hear of us, and we shall lose our lives. If thou wouldst learn this mystery let us go to thy house."

When they came to Hasan's house he brought out food and set it before the Persian, saying, "Eat, my lord, that between us there may be bread and salt." The Persian replied with a smile, "True, my son, yet what virtue hath bread and salt?" And after they had eaten the Persian bade him prepare the crucible once more, and while he was at work the Persian said: "O Hasan, I have a daughter whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and perfect grace. I will marry her to none but thee." And while he was saying this he took from his turban a piece of bhang, which if an elephant smelt he would sleep from night to night, cutting a bit off and putting it in a piece of sweetmeat. And he gave it to Hasan, who took it unknowing, and hardly had he swallowed it when he fell down and was lost to the world. Whereupon the Persian cried: "Thou hast