As soon as Setoc arrived among his own tribe he demanded the payment of
five hundred ounces of silver, which he had lent to a Jew in presence of
two witnesses; but as the witnesses were dead, and the debt could not be
proved, the Hebrew appropriated the merchant's money to himself, and
piously thanked God for putting it in his power to cheat an Arabian. Setoc
imparted this troublesome affair to Zadig, who was now become his counsel.
"In what place," said Zadig, "didst thou lend the five hundred ounces to
this infidel?"
"Upon a large stone," replied the merchant, "that lies near Mount Oreb."
"What is the character of thy debtor?" said Zadig. "That of a knave,"
returned Setoc.
"But I ask thee whether he is lively or phlegmatic, cautious or
imprudent?"
"He is, of all bad payers," said Setoc, "the most lively fellow I ever
knew."
"Well," resumed Zadig, "allow me to plead thy cause." In effect Zadig,
having summoned the Jew to the tribunal, addressed the judge in the
following terms: "Pillar of the throne of equity, I come to demand of this
man, in the name of my master, five hundred ounces of silver, which he
refuses to pay."
"Hast thou any witnesses?" said the judge.
"No, they are dead; but there remains a large stone upon which the money
was counted; and if it please thy grandeur to order the stone to be sought
for, I hope that it will bear witness. The Hebrew and I will tarry here
till the stone arrives; I will send for it at my master's expense."
"With all my heart," replied the judge, and immediately applied himself to
the discussion of other affairs.
When the court was going to break up, the judge said to Zadig. "Well,
friend, is not thy stone come yet?"
The Hebrew replied with a smile, "Thy grandeur may stay here till the
morrow, and after all not see the stone. It is more than six miles from
hence; and it would require fifteen men to move it."
"Well," cried Zadig, "did not I say that the stone would bear witness?
Since this man knows where it is, he thereby confesses that it was upon it
that the money was counted." The Hebrew was disconcerted, and was soon
after obliged to confess the truth. The judge ordered him to be fastened
to the stone, without meat or drink, till he should restore the five
hundred ounces, which were soon after paid.
The slave Zadig and the stone were held in great repute in Arabia.