The two friends went directly to the street, and in the way, as Saadi could not imagine that the bit of lead which Saad had given me could have been the raising of my fortune, he said to him, “I am overjoyed to have made Hassan’s fortune:  but I cannot forgive the two lies he told me, to get four hundred pieces instead of two; for I cannot attribute it to the piece of lead you gave him.”

“So you think,” replied Saad:  “but so do not I. I do not see why you should do Khaujeh Hassan so much injustice as to take him for a liar.  You must give me leave to believe that he told us the truth, disguised nothing from us, that the piece of lead which I gave him is the cause of his prosperity:  and you will find he will presently tell us so.”

During their discourse the two friends came into the street where I lived, asked whereabouts my house stood; and being shewn it, could hardly believe it to be mine.

They knocked at the door, and my porter opened it; when Saadi, fearing to be guilty of rudeness in taking the house of a nobleman for that he was inquiring after, said to the porter, “We are informed that this is the house of Khaujeh Hassan al Hubbaul:  tell us if we are mistaken.”  “You are very right, sir,” said the porter, opening the door wider; “it is the same; come in; he is in the hall, and any of the slaves will point him out to you.”

I had no sooner set my eyes upon the two friends, than I knew them.  I rose from my seat, ran to them, and would have kissed the hem of their garments; but they would not suffer it, and embraced me.  I invited them to a sofa made to hold four persons, which was placed full in view of my garden.  I desired them to sit down, and they would have me take the place of honour.  I assured them I had not forgotten that I was poor Hassan the ropemaker, nor the obligations I had to them; but were this not the case, I knew the respect due to them, and begged them not to expose me.  They sat down in the proper place, and I seated myself opposite to them.

Then Saadi, addressing himself to me, said, “Khaujeh Hassan, I cannot express my joy to see you in the condition I wished you, when I twice made you a present of two hundred pieces of gold, for I mean not to upbraid you; though I am persuaded that those four hundred pieces have made this wonderful change in your fortune, which I behold with pleasure.  One thing only vexes me, which is, that you should twice disguise the truth from me, pretending that your losses were the effect of misfortunes which now seem to me more than ever incredible.  Was it not because, when we were together the last time, you had so little advanced your small income with the four hundred pieces of gold, that you were ashamed to own it?  I am willing to believe this, and wait to be confirmed in my opinion.”