‘Tell me the truth,’ said Tamerlane to Nasrudin, as they
sat in the steam-room of a Turkish bath.
   ‘I always do, Majesty,’ said the Mulla.
   ‘What am I worth?’
   ‘Five gold pieces.’
   The King looked annoyed. ‘This belt which secures my
bathing-trunks is worth just that.’
   ‘You are without value,’ said the Mulla, ‘and when you talk
about ‘worth’ I am forced to answer in terms of the question.
If you are talking about money, I give you the exterior value —
that of the belt. If you are talking about inner worth, it cannot
be answered in words.’