“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.

THE FUNERAL PILE

Setoc, charmed with the happy issue of this affair, made his slave his intimate friend.  He had now conceived as great esteem for him as ever the King of Babylon had done; and Zadig was glad that Setoc had no wife.  He discovered in his master a good natural disposition, much probity of heart, and a great share of good sense; but he was sorry to see that, according to the ancient custom of Arabia, he adored the host of heaven; that is, the sun, moon, and stars.  He sometimes spoke to him on this subject with great prudence and discretion.  At last he told him that these bodies were like all other bodies in the universe, and no more deserving of our homage than a tree or a rock.

“But,” said Setoc, “they are eternal beings; and it is from them we derive all we enjoy.  They animate nature; they regulate the seasons; and, besides, are removed at such an immense distance from us that we cannot help revering them.”