On selecting a wise man

"I want to talk to you about something serious," said the queen's brother.

"What's it?"

"Please ask your husband to appoint me as the royal consultant on social affairs."

"But someone's already posted there. How can we oust him and put you there?"

"That man is a just a court jester. I'm different. As him to sack him and recruit me." Queen's brother sounded pestering.

"Remember, I'm your brother. You have to know blood is thicker than water," he added.

The queen started thinking. She could not find any way out.

"I can't sack someone just because he is a court jester," the king responded pensively, "After all, a royal court jester can hold the position of a royal consultant."

But the queen insisted and forced the king to sack the jester and recruit her brother.

"If that's so, I have to send my jester to a distant place. But I want to test your brother's intelligence. Is that all right?"

"Whatever it is, I'm all right. I only want him to be given the position." The queen's plea made the king feel sorry. He felt sorry for both her and her brother.

"Ask him to see me in a few days' time."

The king summoned his jester cum royal consultant. He appeared before the king promptly.

"I want you take one week off," the king said.

"I don't want it."

"Never mind, I will give you the facilities. Make sure you take one week off." The jester could not fathom what's going on, or what's wrong with the king. He thought for a while, and felt he should better obey the order. And he felt something fishy too! Well, the king did not sack him, the jester thought, he just wanted to take one week off. He left the palace for the distant area and spent the rest of the days in the state residence.

Meanwhile, the king's brother who claimed himself to be a scholar visited the king. The king handed over a hundred-rupee note to the brother-in-law.

"I want you to make hundred thousand rupees from this," said the king.

"How long will you give me?"

"Sooner the better. The day you bring that, I will appoint you as the royal consultant."

The queen's brother went off thinking of a way to increase the money. He went on thinking and thinking, but he failed to come up with a proper scheme. He came to see his sister.

"Seems like I can't make it," he said in a defeated tone.

"So go back and tell him that." The brother went to see the king.

"I have come to hand over that hundred-rupee note back to you. I couldn't make it."

"That means you have failed your test," the king said. The queen's brother was desperate. He informed of his failure to pass the test. The queen met the king once again and wanted to know how could a hundred-rupee note be turned into hundred thousand. Listening to the queen, the king said,

"But my jester will show you how to do that."

The queen wanted to see that. So the king sent an order to the jester to come back to work.

"I'm happy to see you back. But I want some advice from you."

"What's it?"

"Take this hundred-rupee note and increase it into hundred thousand as soon as possible." The man smilingly took the hundred rupees and in the first instance he brought a spool of twine, which he took to the streets of where the jewellers sold their gold and silver. With the help of an attendant he got one end of the twine hold in his hand and went on measuring several jewellery shops. The jewellers were astounded. They inquired.

"What are you trying to do?" they asked.

"I have come on the orders of the king who wanted me to build a children's park by demolishing some of these jewellery shops."

"Please don't harm us, we can give you any amount of money to save our shops."

"All right then, discuss the matter with the rest of the jewellery shopkeepers and bring me one hundred thousand soon as possible."

The jewellery shopkeepers gathered to discuss the matter. They spared no time collecting one hundred thousand to carry on their business. The jester, on the other hand, could go back to the king with the required amount.

"You have come back so soon. How did you manage to collect it?"

When the jester related what happened, a smile appeared on the king's face. "So your period as the royal consultant has been extended."