There was once a jeweler (珠宝商), famous for many virtues (美德). One day, some Arabs came to him for some diamonds to decorate an important thing for a yearly celebration.

    The Arabs told him what they wanted, and p a fine price for him. He replied that he could not let them see the jewels at that moment, and needed them to come again.

    B they wanted the diamonds very much and thought that the p of the jeweler was only to increase the price of the diamonds, the Arabs offered him twice, then three times as much as they were worth. But he still r, and they were quite disappointed and went away.

    Some hours later, he went to the Arabs and p the diamonds before them, for which they again offered him the last price, but he said, "I will only accept the first p you offered to me this morning."

    "Why, then, did you disagree with us at first?" asked they in s.

    "When you came," replied he, "my father had the key to the safes (保险箱), in which the diamonds were locked, and as he was asleep, I would have to w him to gain them. At his age, a short of sleep u does him good; and no business is more important than my father's health."

    The Arabs were t by his words. They spread their hand upon the jeweler's head and showed their satisfying smiles.