the noise and clamour of the children they were disturbed for many hours and slumber visited not their eyes.  And when morn appeared, the jeweller’s wife came to our house to make complaint both for herself and her husband anent the hubbub and shouting.  Ere she could say a word of blame my wife, guessing the intent wherewith she came, addressed her saying, “O Rahil,[FN#284] I fear me that my children pestered thee last night with their laughing and crying.  I crave thine indulgence in this matter; well thou must wot how children now cry now laugh at trifles.  Come in and see the cause of all their excitement wherefor thou wouldst justly call me to account.”  She did accordingly and saw the bit of glass about which the youngsters had made such din and uproar; and when she, who had long experience of all manner precious stones, beheld the diamond she was filled with wonderment.  My wife then told her how she had found it in the fish’s belly, whereupon quoth the Jewess, “This bit of glass is more excellent than all other sorts of glass.  I too have such an one as this which I am wont to wear sometimes; and wouldst thou sell it I will buy this thing of thee.”  Hearing her words the children began to cry and said, “O mother dear, an thou wilt not sell it we promise henceforth to make no noise.”  Understanding that they would by no means part with it, the women held their peace and presently the Jewess fared forth, but ere she took her leave she whispered my wife, “See that thou tell the matter to none; and, if thou have a mind to sell it at once send me word.”  Now the Jew was sitting in his shop when his wife went to him and told him of the bit of glass.  Quoth he, “Go straightway back and offer a price for it, saying that ’tis for me.  Begin with some small bidding, then raise the sum until thou get it.”  The Jewess thereupon returned to my house and offered twenty Ashrafis, which my wife deemed a large sum to give for such a trifle; however, she would not close the bargain.  At that moment I happened to leave my work and, coming home to our noon meal, saw the two women talking on the threshold; and my wife stopped me, saying, “This neighbour biddeth twenty Ashrafis to price for the piece of glass, but I have as yet given her no reply.  What sayest thou?” Then I bethought me of what Sa’d had told me; to wit, that much wealth would come to me by virtue of his leaden coin.  The Jewess seeing how I hesitated bethought her that I would not consent to the price; so quoth she, “O neighbour, an thou wilt not agree to part with the bit of glass for twenty pieces of gold, I will e’en give thee fifty.”  Hereat I reflected that whereas the Jewess raised her offer so readily from twenty golden pieces to fifty, this glass must surely be of great value; so I kept silence and answered her not a word.  Then noting that I still held my peace she cried, “Take then one hundred:  this be its full value; nay I know not in very deed if my husband will consent to so high a price.”