Nasrudin had some good news for the King, and after a great deal
of difficulty managed to gain an audience — although by tradition
every subject theoretically had the right of immediate access to the
Court.
   The King was pleased with what he had been told. ‘Choose your
own reward,’ he said.
   ‘Fifty lashes,’ said Nasrudin.
   Puzzled, the King ordered that Nasrudin be beaten.
   When twenty-five strokes had been administered, Nasrudin called:
‘Stop!’
   ‘Now,’ he said, ‘bring in my partner, and give him the other half
of the reward. The chamberlain, Your Majesty, would not allow me
to see you unless I would swear to give him exactly half of anything
that I got as a result of my good news.’