LESSON 74

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND

砖石切砖石

Édouard Renè Lefebvre-Laboulaye, 1811-1883, was a French writer of note. Most of his works involve questions of law and politics, and are considered high authority on the questions discussed. A few works, such as “Abdallah,” from which the following extract is adapted, were written as a mere recreation in the midst of law studies; they show great imaginative power. Laboulaye took great interest in the United States, her people, and her literature; and many of his works are devoted to American questions. He translated the works of Dr. William E. Channing into French.

Mansour, the Egyptian merchant, one day repaired to the cadi on account of a suit, the issue of which troubled him but little. A private conversation with the judge had given him hopes of the justice of his cause. The old man asked his son Omar to accompany him in order to accustom him early to deal with the law.

The cadi was seated in the courtyard of the mosque. He was a fat, good-looking man, who never thought, and talked little, which, added to his large turban and his air of perpetual astonishment, gave him a great reputation for justice and gravity.

The spectators were numerous; the principal merchants were seated on the ground on carpets, forming a semicircle around the magistrate. Mansour took his seat a little way from the sheik, and Omar placed himself between the two, his curiosity strongly excited to see how the law was obeyed, and how it was trifled with in case of need.

The first case called was that of a young Banian, as yellow as an orange, with loose flowing robes and an effeminate air, who had lately landed from India, and who complained of having been cheated by one of Mansour’s rivals.

“Having found a casket of diamonds among the effects left by my father,” said he, “I set out for Egypt, to live there on the proceeds of their sale. I was obliged by bad weather to put into Jidda, where I soon found myself in want of money. I went to the bazaar, and inquired for a dealer in precious stones. The richest, I was told, was Mansour; the most honest, Ali, the jeweler. I applied to Ali.

“He welcomed me as a son, as soon as he learned that I had diamonds to sell, and carried me home with him. He gained my confidence by every kind of attention, and advanced me all the money I needed. One day, after dinner, at which wine was not wanting, he examined the diamonds, one by one, and said, ‘My child, these diamonds are of little value; my coffers are full of such stones. The rocks of the desert furnish them by thousands.’

“To prove the truth of what he said, he opened a box, and, taking therefrom a diamond thrice as large as any of mine, gave it to the slave that was with me. ‘What will become of me?’ I cried; ‘I thought myself rich, and here I am, poor, and a stranger.’

“ ‘My child,’ replied Ali, ‘Leave this casket with me, and I will give you a price for it such as no one else would offer. Choose whatever you wish in Jidda, and in two hours I will give you an equal weight of what you have chosen in exchange for your Indian stones.’

“On returning home, night brought reflection. I learned that Ali had been deceiving me. What he had given to the slave was nothing but a bit of crystal. I demanded my casket. Ali refused to restore it. Venerable magistrate, my sole hope is in your justice.”

It was now Ali’s turn to speak. “Illustrious cadi,” said he, “It is true that we made a bargain, which I am ready to keep. The rest of the young man’s story is false. What matters it what I gave the slave? Did I force the stranger to leave the casket in my hands? Why does he accuse me of treachery? Have I broken my word, and has he kept his?”

“Young man,” said the cadi to the Banian, “have you witnesses to prove that Ali deceived you? If not, I shall put the accused on his oath, as the law decrees.” A Koran was brought. Ali placed his hand on it, and swore three times that he had not deceived the stranger. “Wretch,” said the Banian, “thou art among those whose feet go down to destruction. Thou hast thrown away thy soul.”

Omar smiled, and while Ali was enjoying the success of his ruse, he approached the stranger, and asked, “Do you wish me to help you gain the suit?” “Yes,” was the reply; “but you are only a child—you can do nothing.”

“Have confidence in me a few moments,” said Omar; “accept Ali’s bargain; let me choose in your stead, and fear nothing.”

The stranger bowed his head, and murmured, “What can I fear after having lost all?” Then, turning to the cadi, and bowing respectfully, “Let the bargain be consummated,” said he, “since the law decrees it, and let this young man choose in my stead what I shall receive in payment.”

A profound silence ensued. Omar rose, and, bowing to the cadi, “Ali,” said he to the jeweler, “you have doubtless brought the casket, and can tell us the weight thereof.”

“Here it is,” said Ali; “it weighs twenty pounds.

Choose what you will; if the thing asked for is in Jidda, you shall have it within two hours, otherwise the bargain is null and void.”

“What we desire,” said Omar, raising his voice, “is ants’ wings, half male and half female. You have two hours in which to furnish the twenty pounds you have promised us.” “This is absurd,” cried the jeweler; “it is impossible. I should need half a score of persons and six months labor to satisfy so foolish a demand.”

“Are there any winged ants in Jidda?” asked the cadi. “Of course,” answered the merchants, laughing; “they are one of the plagues of Egypt. Our houses are full of them, and it would be doing us a great service to rid us of them.”

“Then Ali must keep his promise or give back the casket,” said the cadi. “This young man was mad to sell his diamonds weight for weight; he is mad to exact such payment. So much the better for Ali the first time: so much the worse for him the second. Justice has not two weights and measures. Every bargain holds good before the law. Either furnish twenty pounds of ants’ wings, or restore the casket to the Banian.” “A righteous judgment,” shouted the spectators, wonder-struck at such equity.

The stranger, beside himself with joy, took from the casket three diamonds of the finest water; he forced them on Omar, who put them in his girdle, and seated himself by his father, his gravity unmoved by the gaze of the assembly. “Well done,” said Mansour; “but it is my turn now; mark me well, and profit by the lesson I shall give you. Stop, young man!” he cried to the Banian, “we have an account to settle.”

“The day before yesterday,” continued he, “this young man entered my shop, and, bursting into tears, kissed my hand and entreated me to sell him a necklace which I had already sold to the Pasha of Egypt, saying that his life and that of a lady depended upon it. ‘Ask of me what you will, my father,’ said he, ‘but I must have these gems or die.’

“I have a weakness for young men, and, though I knew the danger of disappointing my master the pasha, I was unable to resist his supplications. ‘Take the necklace,’ said I to him, ‘but promise to give whatever I may ask in exchange.’ ‘My head itself, if you will,’ he replied, ‘for you have saved my life,’ We were without witnesses, but,” added Mansour, turning to the Banian, “is not my story true?”

“Yes,” said the young man, “and I beg your pardon for not having satisfied you sooner: you know the cause. Ask of me what you desire.”

“What I desire,” said Mansour, “is the casket with all its contents. Illustrious magistrate, you have declared that all bargains hold good before the law; this young man has promised to give me what I please; now I declare that nothing pleases me but these diamonds.”

The cadi raised his head and looked about the assembly, as if to interrogate the faces, then stroked his beard, and relapsed into his meditations.

“Ali is defeated,” said the sheik to Omar, with a smile, “The fox is not yet born more cunning than the worthy Mansour.”

“I am lost!” cried the Banian. “O Omar, have you saved me only to cast me down from the highest pinnacle of joy to the depths of despair? Persuade your father to spare me, that I may owe my life to you a second time.”

“Well, my son,” said Mansour, “doubtless you are shrewd, but this will teach you that your father knows rather more than you do. The cadi is about to decide: try whether you can dictate his decree.”

“It is mere child’s play,” answered Omar, shrugging his shoulders; “but since you desire it, my father, you shall lose your suit.” He rose, and taking a piaster from his girdle, put it into the hand of the Banian, who laid it before the judge.

“Illustrious cadi,” said Omar, “this young man is ready to fulfill his engagement. This is what he offers Mansour—piaster. In itself this coin is of little value; but examine it closely, and you will see that it is stamped with the likeness of the sultan, our glorious master. May God destroy and confound all who disobey his highness!

“It is this precious likeness that we offer you,” added he, turning to Mansour; “if it pleases you, you are paid; to say that it displeases you is an insult to the pasha, a crime punishable by death; and I am sure that our worthy cadi will not become your accomplice—he who has always been and always will be the faithful servant of an the sultans.”

When Omar had finished speaking, all eyes turned toward the cadi, who, more impenetrable than ever, stroked his face and waited for the old man to come to his aid. Mansour was agitated and embarrassed. The silence of the cadi and the assembly terrified him, and he cast a supplicating glance toward his son.

“My father,” said Omar, “permit this young man to thank you for the lesson of prudence which you have given him by frightening him a little. He knows well that it was you who sent me to his aid, and that all this is a farce. No one is deceived by hearing the son oppose the Father, and who has ever doubted Mansour’s experience and generosity?”

“No one,” interrupted the cadi, starting up like a man suddenly awakened from a dream, “and I least of all; and this is why I have permitted you to speak, my young Solomon. I wished to honor in you the wisdom of your father; but another time avoid meddling with his highness’s name; it is not safe to sport with the lion’s paws. The matter is settled. The necklace is worth a hundred thousand piasters, is it not, Mansour? This madcap, shall give you, therefore, a hundred thousand piasters, and all parties will be satisfied.”

【中文阅读】

埃及商人曼苏尔由于一桩诉讼案子的缘故，去找地方法官，争论的问题多少令他感到棘手。与法官私下进行的谈话，给他带来了公正判决的希望。这位老人之所以让儿子奥马尔陪他去，是为了让他尽早养成运用法律的习惯。

那位下级法官坐在清真寺的院子里。他体态肥胖，不过相貌不错，此人从不动脑子，也很少开口说话，使得他那块很大的包头巾和他的外表平添了一种始终令人惊愕的神情，赋予他公正和庄严的好名声。

旁观者为数甚众。商人们坐在四周的地毯上，成半圆形围着地方法官。曼苏尔的座位离教长稍远，而奥马尔在两者之间。他的好奇心强烈地驱使着他凝神注视着，他想看看法律是如何得到遵守的，如果必要又是如何被轻视的。

审理的第一件案子是关于一位年轻的印度商人，此人肤色黄得如同柑橘，穿了一件宽松下垂的长袍，一副柔弱的样子。他不久前从印度来到此地，指控说被曼苏尔的一位竞争对手骗了。

“在我父亲留下的财物中发现了一个装满钻石的匣子，”他说，“我动身前往埃及，想在那儿靠变卖这些钻石为生。我不得不在恶劣天气下乘船进入吉达港，结果身无分文了。于是，我去了集市，向一位专门经营贵重石头的商人打听。他告诉我说，这里最有钱的人是曼苏尔，而最诚实的人是珠宝商阿里。就这样，我去找阿里。

他对我非常热情，就像对自己儿子似的，他一得知我有钻石要卖，便将我带回家。他对我照料备至，赢得了我的信任，向我预付了我正需要的钱。一天晚餐后，记得晚餐时还喝了葡萄酒，他逐一查验钻石，然后说，‘我的孩子，这些钻石值不了几个钱，我的保险柜里装满了这种货色。沙漠里这种石头多的是。’

为了验证他说的话，他打开一个小盒子，从里面取出一个比我的钻石大一倍的钻石，给了服侍我的奴隶。‘怎么会这样？’我喊道，‘我以为自己真的变成有钱人了，可是在这儿我是个穷光蛋，是受人欺负的外乡人。’

‘我的孩子，’阿里答道，‘把那个匣子给我留下，我会给你其他任何人也不会给你的价钱。在吉达不论你选择卖给谁，我都会在两小时内给你与你从印度带来的宝石一样重的钻石。’

回去后我彻夜难眠。我晓得阿里在骗我，他给奴隶的不过是一块水晶罢了。我想要回我的匣子，阿里拒绝原物奉还。尊敬的法官大人，我唯一的希望就是您主持公正了。”

现在轮到阿里为自己辩护。“明察秋毫的法官大人，”他说，“事实上我确实做了一笔交易，我准备履行自己的承诺。这个年轻人说的其他事情都是假的。至于我给奴隶什么东西有什么关系呢？难道是我从这位年轻人手上把匣子抢过来的不成？他为什么要指控我有欺诈行为？如果说我不守信的话，难道他就守信吗？”

“年轻人，”地方法官对印度商人说，“你有证人证明阿里欺骗你吗？如果没有，我将把他的誓言作为判决的依据。”说着，拿来《古兰经》。阿里手按《古兰经》，发了三遍誓，说他不会欺骗初来乍到的外乡人。“简直无耻之极，”印度商人说，“你就属于那种脚一踩到地就会带来破坏的人，早把灵魂和良心扔到一边了。”

闻听此言，奥马尔微微一笑，而阿里正在为自己的诡计沾沾自喜呢。他走到外乡人近前，问道：“你希望我帮你打赢这场官司吗？”“那当然好了，”印度商人回答道。“可你只是个孩子，能做什么呢。”

“过一会儿你就会对我有信心了，”奥马尔说，“接受阿里提出的交易条件。我代你和他交涉，别害怕。”

这位外乡人若有所思地低下头，小声嘟囔道：“现在什么都没了，我有什么好害怕的？”然后，他转向地方法官，尊敬地鞠躬道，“那就达成交易吧，”他说，“因为法律就是这样判定的，让这位年轻人代我收款。”

接下来是一阵沉默，奥马尔站起身，冲法官深鞠一躬，“阿里。”他对珠宝商说，“毫无疑问你拿走了那只匣子，告诉我们有多重。”

“在这儿呢，”阿里说，“二十磅重。由你选择。如果按吉达的规矩，交易必须在两小时内达成。不然的话，交易取消。”

“我们要的是，”奥马尔说，抬高了声音。“蚂蚁的翅膀，半雄半雌的。在两个小时内你必须提供你保证的二十磅蚂蚁的翅膀。”“这太荒谬了，”珠宝商喊道，“这不可能。这起码需要二十个人用六个月时间来满足这愚蠢的要求。”

“在吉达有长翅膀的蚂蚁吗？”地方法官问道。“当然，”这位商人哈哈大笑道，“这种蚂蚁是埃及一种瘟疫的始作俑者。我们家里到处都是这东西，需要费很大劲才能赶走它。”

“看来阿里必须信守诺言，不然的话就归还那只匣子。”大方法官说。“这年轻人简直疯了，居然用相同重量的钻石换蚂蚁的翅膀；他要求用这种支付方式，真是疯了啊。对阿里来说，这样的好事还是第一次碰到，第二次碰到就要倒大霉了。公正就意味着不会存在两个重量和两个尺度。在法律面前，每一桩交易都要体现公正。要么提供二十磅重的蚂蚁翅膀，要么将装钻石的匣子还给印度商人。”“公正的判决，”围观者高喊道，对这样的衡平法则感到很好奇。

这位外乡人，除了对判决感到十分欣慰以外，还从匣子里拿出三个品质最好的钻石，他非要送给奥马尔作为酬谢，奥马尔将钻石放到腰间拴着的袋子里，挨着他父亲坐下，他神情严肃，不为众人的目光所动。“做得好，”曼苏尔说，“不过现在该轮到我了；好好留意我，看看从我的教训中能有何受益。停下，年轻人！”他冲印度商人喊道，“我们还有账没结呢。”

“前天，”他继续道，“这位年轻人刚走进我的店，就泪流满面地吻我的手，恳求我卖给他项链，要知道那根项链我已经答应卖给埃及的帕夏了，他说他和一位女士的命全系于这根项链。‘我的大人，求你无论如何卖给我，’他说，‘我要是没这些宝物就得死。’

对年轻人我总是不忍心，尽管我清楚惹恼帕夏老爷会有多危险，可是我无法回绝他的恳求。‘拿走这根项链吧，’我对他说，‘可是你要保证不能和别人交换。’‘我拿脑袋担保，’他信誓旦旦地说，‘因为你救了我的命啊，’不过，当时没有别人在场。”曼苏尔补充道，转脸盯着印度商人，“我说的可是实情？”

“是的，”这位年轻人说，“请原谅我没有尽快让你满意；你晓得原因的。请求我做你希望的事情。”

“我期望的事情，”曼苏尔说，“就是篮子和里面所有的东西。明察秋毫的法官，你声称只要守法所有的交易都会很好地进行下去；这个年轻人已经承诺给我想要的东西；现在我宣布除了这些钻石以外，没有我想要的东西。”

这时，下级法官抬起头，瞥了一眼在场的人，仿佛在质问这些面孔，然后他捋了一下胡子，重新陷入沉思。

“阿里败了，”酋长对奥马尔说，脸上浮出笑意，“狐狸不是注定比老练的曼苏尔狡猾的。”

“我完蛋了！”印度商人喊道。“啊，奥马尔，你能把从最高的顶点坠落到失望深渊的我解救出来吗？劝你父亲饶了我吧，看来我又得欠你的人情债了。”

“好了，我的孩子，”曼苏尔说，“毫无疑问你怯懦了，不过这会叫你明白你老子知道的就是比你多。下级法官就要做出裁决了：不论是否能影响他的判决，都要试试。”

“这只是孩子的把戏罢了，”奥马尔耸耸肩答道，“既然你希望得到这个结果，我的父亲，你就会输掉官司。”说着他站起身，从腰带里抽出一比索，然后放到印度商人手心里。印度商人当着法官的面收下赌注。

“明察秋毫的法官，”奥马尔说，“这个年轻人准备践诺。这是他给曼苏尔的那个比索。从根本上讲，这枚硬币没什么价值；可是仔细观察的话，会发现上面印有我们光荣的主人——苏丹的肖像。但愿真主消灭和挫败所有违背他训示的人！”

“我们向你出示的是珍贵的苏丹的肖像，”他补充道，转向曼苏尔，“如果你认为我说的对的话，你就应该赔偿；如果你认为不对，就是对帕夏的冒犯，应该判处死刑；我确信我们尊敬的法官不会成为你的同伙——一直以来他始终是苏丹忠实的奴仆。”

奥马尔说完这番话后，所有的目光都齐刷刷转向法官，比以往更难以置信的他，轻抚着面颊，等着曼苏尔来为他帮腔。曼苏尔焦虑不安，很是窘迫。法官和观众的沉默令他紧张害怕，于是他朝儿子投去哀求的一瞥。

“我的父亲，”奥马尔说，“请允许这个年轻人对你表示感谢，感谢你通过恫吓来告诉他的人要有远见这个教训。他很清楚是你派我来帮他的，所有这一切不过是一场闹剧而已。一听说儿子与父亲对立，没有人信以为真，谁会怀疑曼苏尔的经验和慷慨呢？”

“没有人怀疑，”法官插话道，就像突然从梦中惊醒的人一样。“尤其我不怀疑，这就是我为什么允许你说话的原因，聪明的年轻人。因为你有你父亲那样的智慧，我希望给予你应得的荣誉；但是另一方面又要避免冒犯他的大名，玩弄狮子的爪子可不是明智的。现在这件事情该了结了。这根项链值十万比索，不是吗，曼苏尔？这一轻率之举因此给你带来十万比索的教训，大家皆大欢喜。”