I beseech
your honor that I may not lose so great a sum of money!
CAUZEE. Merchant, what have you to say to this charge?
MERCHANT. I confess that I had the jar in my house, but Ali Cogia found it
exactly as he had left it. Did he ever tell me there was gold in the jar?
No. He now demands that I pay him one thousand pieces of gold. I wonder
that he does not ask me for diamonds and pearls instead of gold. I will
take my oath that what I say is the truth.
CAUZEE. Not so fast! Before you come to your oath, I should be glad to see
the jar of olives.
(_Turning to Ali Cogia._)
Ali Cogia, have you brought the jar?
ALI COGIA. No; I did not think of that.
CAUZEE. Then go and fetch it.
[_Ali Cogia goes._]
CAUZEE (_to the Merchant_). You thought the jar contained olives all this
time?
MERCHANT. Ali Cogia told me it contained olives at the first. I will take
oath that what I say is the truth.
CAUZEE. We are not yet ready for your oath.
[ALI COGIA _enters. He pretends to set a jar before the Cauzee._]
CAUZEE. Ali Cogia, is this jar the same you left with the Merchant?
ALI COGIA. Sir, it is the same.
CAUZEE. Merchant, do you confess this jar to be the same?
MERCHANT.
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