One evening, Nasruddin Hodja's wife saw her husband walking up and down the verandah in great agitation.

"What's the matter?" she asked him.

"I borrowed a hundred dinars from our neighbor last month and I promised to return the money on the last day of this month," explained Hodja.

"Tomorrow is the last day and I don't have the money. I don't know what to do."

"What is there to do!" said his wife. "Go and tell him you can't pay!"

Hodja took his wife's advice.

When he returned from his neighbor’s house he looked relaxed and happy.

"How did he take it?" asked his wife.

"Ah, well," said Hodja. "Now he is walking up and down his verandah.