A Deal is a Deal

"You will write the speech for me?", the fat merchant asked.
The philosopher smiled: "If you should offer a reasonable payment, I might actually consider doing that, my friend."

"Well", the man replied, "I have got a divine Phrygian wine.
Would you like ... let's say ... a barrel?"

"An entire barrel for a few words?" The wise man was amazed.

The merchant grinned.
"Sure. It's all I can offer a genius like you."
"Then it's a deal."

The next day the merchant's servants delivered the barrel.
It was empty.

Diogenes laughed, handed them the text and then crawled in.