The Reward in Advance

A farmer once met the landlord of a distant village and appealed for a loan of three thousand rupees.

“Were you unable to raise a loan from anyone else?” asked the landlord.

“Sir, I am able to obtain a loan even from the greatest miser. But I thought of asking you because you are a noble-hearted man,” replied the farmer.

“You boast of your ability to secure a loan even from the most miserly of men. Well, can you get it from the landlord of Raghavpur? If you can, I shall reward you with a gold bangle that costs four thousand rupees,” said the landlord.

“Sir, I’m sure I will succeed. However, it will be difficult for me to travel to Raghavpur to claim my reward. I propose that you hand over the reward to me in advance. Let one of your men accompany me. If I fail, he can recover the bangle from me,” suggested the farmer.

The landlord agreed to the arrangement. The farmer took the bangle and set off with two companions. He pledged the bangle to the landlord of Raghavpur and successfully obtained the loan.