Imaginary Evidence

The great Mogul Emperor stormed up and down his audience chamber, occasionally stopping to cast a withering look at the servants, who were standing in an uneasy line along one wall. Each of the servants stood there shivering with fright, for a costly gem was missing from the Emperor’s safe, and they knew full well that they would all receive a merciless flogging if the culprit was not discovered.

At last, Birbal, the Emperor’s adviser, strode into the audience chamber and stood there, eyeing each servant. “The thief is not hard to find,” he said in a cold, hard voice. “In the safe, I found traces of straw, and I am sure that the rogue who stole the jewel will have a wisp of straw clinging to his beard.”

Involuntarily, a servant at the end of the row put up his hand and started to feel his beard. Great was his shock when Birbal ordered him to come forward. The servant took one look at the Emperor’s thunderous brow, fell on his knees, and in a voice quaking with terror, confessed and begged the Emperor to show him mercy.