One of the learned men said: “Let us ask Aesop yet another question: What thing is it that we never see or hear?” And the king said: “I ask you, Aesop, to tell us what thing it is that we never hear or see?” Aesop replied: “Allow me to answer tomorrow.” And when he went to his house, he pretended to write a contract and obligation in which Nectanabo confessed to having received as a loan from King Licurus one thousand silver marks, which he obliged himself to repay at a time already past. And the next morning Aesop took that contract and showed it to the king. After reading it the king marveled and said to his powerful men; “You hear and see that I received some money a while ago which King Licurus of Babylon lent to me.” They said, “We have never heard or seen such a thing.” Then, said Aesop: “If what you say is true, the question is resolved.” The king, hearing this, said: “Happy art thou, Licurus, to possess such a man.” And so he sent the tribute with Aesop. And he, having returned to Babylon, told King Licurus all that he had done in Egypt and then presented the tribute which the king had sent. And for this King Licurus ordered a gold statue of Aesop raised in public.