AN INGENIOUS-MERCHANT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, 19 March 1908, Page 37

AN INGENIOUS-MERCHANT

_____ _ - Recently a' wealthy merchant in ""Paris, who. -does an extensive business with Japan, was informed that a prominent firm in, Yokohama had failed, but the name of the firm he' could not learn. He could- have learned the truth by cabling, but, to save expense, instead he went to a well-known banker, who had received ~ the news, and requested hini to reveal the ii!ame of the firm. '•That's a very delicate thing to do,' replied the banker, ' for the news is not official, and if I give you the name I might incur some, responsibility.! The merchant argued; but in vain, and~Yinally -he made this proposition. : 1 ~~1 jfrill give you,' he said, a list of ten firms in Yokohama, and I will ask .you to look through it and tell' me, without mentioning any name, whether or not the name of the firm whioh has failed appears in. it. Surely 3 r ou will do that for me?' 1 Yes,' said the banker ; ' for if I do not mention, any name I cannot be held responsible in any way.' The list was made" The banker looked through it, and, as he handed it back „to the merchant,' gfeid ; 'The name of the merchant who has Jailed -is there.' ' Tlhitn I've lost- heavily,'* replied the vmerchant," ' for that is the firm with, which I did business,' snowing him> a name on. the' list.. - ' But how ,do- you know that is the firm which has failed ? ' asked the banker, in surprise. ' Very, easily,' replied the merchant. ' Of~ the ten. names on~ the list, only one is genuine, that of the firm with -which I did business; all the others "■ are fictitious.' "