hath declared that by means of that coin I shall attain to much riches and abundant opulence.”  Then I recounted to my wife how my two friends had visited me and what they said and did, and all concerning the leaden coin which Sa’d had given to me.  She wondered at seeing but a single fish and said, “How shall I cook it?  Meseemeth ’twere best to cut it up and broil it for the children, especially as we have naught of spices and condiments wherewith to dress it otherwise.”  Then, as she sliced and cleansed the fish she found within its belly a large diamond which she supposed to be a bit of glass or crystal; for she oft had heard tell of diamonds[FN#281] but never with her own eyes had she beheld one.  So she gave it to the youngest of the children for a plaything and when the others saw it, by reason of its brightness and brilliancy all desired to have it and each kept it in turn awhile; moreover when night came and the lamp was lighted they crowded round the stone and gazed upon its beauty, and screamed and shouted with delight.[FN#282] When my wife had spread the table we sat down to supper and the eldest boy set the diamond upon the tray, and as soon as we all had finished eating, the children fought and scrambled as before for it.  At first I paid no heed to their noise and hubbub, but when it waxed exceeding loud and irksome I asked my eldest lad the cause why they quarrelled and made such turmoil.  Quoth he, “The trouble and dispute are about a piece of glass which giveth forth a light as bright as the lamp.”  Whereat I told him to produce it and marvelled greatly to see its sparkling water, and enquired of my wife whence she had gotten the piece of crystal.  Quoth she, “This I found within the belly of the fish as I was gutting it.”  Still I did not suppose it to be aught but glass.  Presently I bade my wife hide the lamp behind the hearth.—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

        The end of the Six Hundred and Twentieth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that Hasan al-Habbal thus continued his story:—­And when my wife had hidden the lamp from view, such was the brightness of the diamond that we could see right well without other light; wherefore I placed it upon the hearth[FN#283] that we might work by it, and said within myself, “The coin that Sa’d left with me hath produced this benefit that we no longer stand in need of a lamp:  at least it saveth us oil.”  When the youngsters saw me put out the lamp and use the glass in its stead they jumped and danced for joy, and screamed and shouted with glee so that all the neighbours round about could hear them when I chid them and sent them to bed; we also went to rest and right soon fell asleep.  Next day I woke betimes and went on with my work and thought not of the piece of glass.  Now there dwelt hard by us a wealthy Jew, a jeweller who bought and sold all kinds of precious stones; and, as he and his wife essayed to sleep that night, by reason of