The Red Pearl - Part 2/4

The man travelled for numerous days, searching for another person who would retrieve his pearls.

On one lonesome road he met a richly dressed man riding a horse, who introduced himself as Baron Charlamagne, a man of great renown. Upon observing his glum countenance, the baron inquired to the reason of his morose expression. The man responded with his tale of loss.

“I suppose these pearls are valuable to you”, mused the baron, “I will retrieve them…for a price, of course.” So elated was the man, that he consented readily and handed the baron some money to purchase the pearls.

After he received the name of the town where the pearls had been lost, the baron turned, and rode in the direction of the town.

He reached it at noon and entered the gates. He disembarked from his horse and tied it to a pole and entered the jewellers [he expected the knight had sold the pearls here].

Walking to the counter he announced “I wish to purchase some pearls” [he did not mention the fact that the pearls he wanted were red because it would sound suspicious].

The jeweller reached behind the counter and pulled up eleven velvet filled boxes containing pearls of various hues. They appeared quite unauthentic to the barons experienced eyes.

“All my pearls”, he declared, “all genuine”.

There was not a red one among them. The baron sighed; he had expected that, but it had complicated matters.

“How is business?” asked the baron.

“Sufficient, sufficient”, replied the other, “only yesterday an odd fellow bought twenty-five pearls. Said his name was Ibn Rajab of Egypt. He wore a long white robe and a turban. He is a travel writer”.

“Where is he staying?” asked the baron.

“He inquired about an inn to stay”, answered the jeweller, “I directed him to The Golden Crown inn near my place… So, what do you want to buy?”

“I’ll have this rather large argent pearl”, was the reply.

Then the baron exited the shop and looked up and down the street for The Golden Crown inn.