A Case Resolved by Silence

A merchant was on his way to town, riding a strong stallion. At noon, he fastened the horse to a tree and entered a pond for a bath.

An officer of the king, also traveling to the town, dismounted near the pond and tied his horse to the same tree.

“For heaven’s sake, fasten your horse to another tree. My stallion is quite unruly,” warned the merchant.

However, the officer paid no heed to the warning. Within minutes, the two horses began to fight, and the merchant’s stallion killed the officer’s horse.

The officer brought a complaint against the merchant in the court of the local judge.

“What do you have to say about it?” the judge asked the merchant. The merchant remained silent for a moment.

“He seems to be dumb!” observed the judge.

“Dumb? You should have heard how he shouted at me, warning that his horse was unruly and that I should tie mine to another tree!” the agitated officer exclaimed.

“That decides the case. The accusation against the merchant does not stand,” declared the judge.