*A merchant's lie* Once upon a time, a merchant entrusted his iron rod to a friend while he was away. When he came back, the friend lied, Mice ate your iron rod. The merchant stayed calm and later took the friend’s son with him to the town festival. When the worried friend asked where his son was, the merchant said, A hawk swooped down and carried him away.The friend cried, Impossible! How can a hawk carry a child? The merchant replied, If mice can eat iron, then a hawk can certainly carry away a child. The king, upon hearing the case, forced the friend to return the merchant’s iron rod. Moral: One lie invites another in return.