One day a horse trader, a foreigner, came to the court of Krishnadeva Raya and told him he had some fine horses for sale.<>
The emperor offered to buy them. <>
The man took an advance of 5000 gold coins and promising to return with the horses in two days, went away. <>
That evening Krishnadeva Raya saw Raman writing on a sheet of paper.<>
“What are you writing?” he asked.<>
“I’m making a list of the greatest fools in the empire,” said Raman.<>
The emperor was astonished to see his own name on the top of the list.<>
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “You think I am a fool!”<>
“Any man who would give 5000 gold coins to a stranger and expect him to return, is a fool!” replied Raman.<>
“Oh, so that’s what is troubling you,” said the emperor. “You think the man won’t return. What if he does?”<>
“In that case,” said Raman with a twinkle in his eye, “I’ll scratch out your name and put his there.”<>
