Business is at
a standstill unless we make a bargain. Now, I promise to give you
back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
condition, which is this--whatever you get from it, I am to get
double."
"Never!" cried the Farmer; "that would be the old business all over
again!"
"Not at all!" replied the wily Money-lender; "you will have your share!
Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for, if _you_ get all you want,
what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?"
At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
to a Money-lender, the Farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the Money-lender
gained double. And the knowledge that this was so, preyed upon the
Farmer's mind day and night, so that he had no satisfaction out of
anything.
At last there came a very dry season--so dry that the Farmer's crops
withered for want of rain. Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
well to water them, and lo! there was the well, _but the Money-lender
had two_!--two beautiful new wells! This was too much for any Farmer
to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded over it, till
at last a bright idea came into his head.
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