In a city called Sindah there was once a very wealthy merchant, who
made ready his camel-loads and equipped himself with goods and set out
with his outfit for such a city, purposing to sell it there. Now he
was followed by two sharpers, who had made up into bales what
merchandise they could get; and, giving out to the merchant that they
also were merchants, wended with him by the way. So halting at the
first halting-place they agreed to play him false and take all he had;
but at the same time, each inwardly plotted foul play to the other,
saying in his mind, "If I can cheat my comrade, times will go well with
me and I shall have all these goods for myself." So after planning
this perfidy, one of them took food and putting therein poison, brought
it to his fellow; the other did the same and they both ate of the
poisoned mess and they both died. Now they had been sitting with the
merchant; so when they left him and were long absent from him, he
sought for tidings of them and found the twain lying dead; whereby he
knew that they were sharpers who had plotted to play him foul, but
their foul play had recoiled upon themselves. So the merchant was
preserved and took what they had. Then quoth the Sultan, "O Shahrazad,
verily thou hast aroused me to all whereof I was negligent! So
continue to edify me with these fables." Quoth she:—It hath reached
me, O King, that men tell this tale of