Once Tenali Raman fell sick. His wife was worried and asked a peacocky rich doctor to cure her husband of the disease.
The doctor said,
"I can cure your husband of the disease. But you will have to pay me a hundred gold coins."
Tenali Raman's wife agreed but said,
"I don't have that much money now. But my husband has an expensive horse. I will sell it and will pay you off."
The greedy doctor knew that the horse cost at least two hundred gold coins. He forced Raman's wife to promise that she will give him all the money she is going to get for the horse. They struck hands and all people heard that.
Only then the doctor started treating the sick man for his diseases. Either Raman's prayers were granted or the drugs were good for his disease, but some time later Tenali Raman was well again.
After that the doctor demanded the reward.
Tenali Raman found out quietly the sum doctors used to take for curing of such a disease. Then, together with the doctor, who was rubbing his hands in expectation of unheard-of reward, they went to the market to sell the horse. Raman also took a cat.
When they came to the market, he shouted loudly:
"I am selling a cat and a horse! I am selling a cat and a horse! The cat is going for 90 and the horse for 10 gold coins! Listen to me, people!"
The horse was of a rare Arab breed and soon a purchaser turned up who paid the full sum for the cat and the horse. Raman took the money giving 10 gold coins to the doctor.
"I am giving you what I got for the horse."
The doctor was upset and from that day on his avidity started to wane.

Electronic text: Moshkov Library