the advisor. ‘Show them.’

And so the young thief reached into his pocket and took out just one diamond. ‘Why, the other one I gave to a beggar who helped me.’

‘Liar!’ said the advisor. ‘What thief would share what he had stolen?’

And now you know who it was who stepped forwards? It was the Rajah himself in his magnificent robes, and he said: ‘He speaks the truth. I was the beggar dressed in rags, and indeed he gave me one diamond. But of the other diamond ... let us see. Guards, search my advisor.’

And so the advisor’s pockets were searched and indeed, although he resisted, they did find ... another diamond.

And now the Rajah spoke to all of those who were assembled in front of the palace who were there to witness an execution, and he said:

‘What should I do with this advisor who has cheated me, this man who I have trusted?’

And the people looked. ‘Why, he should be hanged, not the young thief!’

‘Indeed,’ said the Rajah.

And the advisor was led to the scaffold and the rope was put around his neck and he prepared to die.

‘And what of this young thief who speaks the truth?’

‘Why,’ said the people, ‘make him your new advisor!’

‘Ha, ha,’ said the Rajah, ‘it must be so!’

And the young thief became advisor. But that is not the end of the story, for his first advice to the Rajah was this:

‘See that man upon the scaffold? He has made a mistake. I too have made mistakes. Now I am your advisor my life will change; no more will I need to drink to forget my poverty. I will no longer be poor. No longer will I need to gamble. From now on my work will be advice for the good of the land. No more will I steal, for I will be wealthy. I will only tell the truth, and the truth is ... the truth is that this advisor deserves a second chance just as I have been given a second chance. Take away his riches. Take away his gown. Take away his status. Let him live a poor man. Perhaps he will learn