The Slave-Owner and the Slave

A violent dispute broke out between two men at a marketplace. An official brought the two to Akbar's court, where they each made their statements. Each man accused the other of being his slave, who had run away with his jewelry.

Akbar turned to Beerbal for help. Beerbal presented the men with a new pair of shoes to wear. The first man had difficulty putting them on, but the second man wore them quickly enough. 

"Does this mean that the one who put the shoes on easily is the slave-owner?" the Emperor asked.

"No," said Beerbal. "The slave-owner has never put his shoes on by himself; his slaves do that for him. But the slave is used to putting his shoes on by himself. So, the first man is the slave-owner, and the second man is the slave."