There was once, in the city of Baghdad, a man hight Al-Marwazi,[FN#452] who was a sharper and ruined the folk with his rogueries and he was renowned in all quarters for knavery.  He went out one day, carrying a load of sheep’s droppings, and sware to himself that he would not return to his lodging till he had sold it at the price of raisins.  Now there was in another city a second sharper, hight Al-Razi,[FN#453] one of its worst, who went out the same day, bearing a load of goat’s droppings,[FN#454] anent which he had sworn to himself that he would not sell it but at the price of sundried figs.  So the twain fared on with that which was by them and ceased not going till they met in one of the khans[FN#455] and one complained to other of what he had suffered on travel in quest of gain and of the little demand for his wares.  Now each of them had it in mind to cheat his fellow; so the man of Marw said to the man of Rayy, “Wilt thou sell me that?” He said, “Yes,” and the other continued, “And wilt thou buy that which is with me?” The man of Rayy consented; so they agreed upon this and each of them sold to his mate that which was with him in exchange for the other’s; after which they bade farewell and both fared forth.  As soon as the twain were out of sight, they examined their loads, to see what was therein, and one of them found that he had a load of sheep’s droppings and the other that he had a load of goat’s droppings; whereupon each of them turned back in quest of his fellow.  They met again in the khan and laughing at each other cancelled their bargain; then they agreed to enter into partnership and that all they had of money and other good should be in common, share and share alike.  Then quoth Al-Razi to Al-Marwazi, “Come with me to my city, for that ’tis nearer than thine.”  So he went with him, and when he arrived at his quarters, he said to his wife and household and neighbours, “This is my brother, who hath been absent in the land of Khorasan and is come back.”  And he abode with him in all honour for a space of three days.  On the fourth day, Al-Razi said to him, “Know, O my brother, that I purpose to do something.”  The other asked, “What is it?” and the first answered, “I mean to feign myself dead and do thou go to the bazar and hire two porters and a bier.  Then take me up and go about the streets and markets with my body and collect alms on my account."[FN#456] Accordingly the Marw man repaired to the market and, fetching that which he sought, returned to the Rayy man’s house, where he found his fellow cast down in the entrancepassage, with his beard tied and his eyes shut, and his complexion was paled and his belly was blown and his limbs were loose.  So he deemed him really dead and shook him but he spoke not; then he took a knife and pricked his feet, but he budged not.  Presently said Al-Razi, “What is this, O fool?” and said Al-Marwazi, “I deemed thou wast dead in very deed.”  Al-Razi cried, “Get thee to business, and leave funning.”  So