Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/166

150 elled, and arrived happily without any accident or trouble at the place appointed, where he found Prince Houssain, and both waited for Prince Ahmed.

Prince Ahmed took the road to Samarcand, and the day after his arrival, went as his brothers had done, into the market, where he had not walked long before he heard a crier, who had an artificial apple in his hand, offer it at forty purses. He stopped the crier, and said to him, "Let me see that apple, and tell me what virtue it possesses, to be valued at so high a rate."

"Sir," replied the crier, giving it into his hand, "if you look at the mere outside of this apple, it is not very remarkable; but if you consider its properties, you will say it is invaluable, and that he who possesses it is master of a great treasure. It cures all sick persons of every disease, and even if the patient is dying, it will help him immediately, and restore him to perfect health; and this merely by the patient's smelling it."

"If one may believe you," replied Prince ArmedAhmed [sic], "the virtues of this apple are wonderful, and it is indeed invaluable; but how