Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once, a beggar found a wallet on the road. He opened the wallet and found that there were one hundred gold coins in it. Just then, the beggar heard the cries of a merchant saying, "I have lost my wallet. Whosoever finds it and gives it to me, he will be given a reward.” The beggar was very honest. Handing on the wallet to the merchant, he said, "Will you give me the reward?" "Reward!' said the merchant, counting the coins, "This wallet had 200 gold coins. You have stolen half the coins. Now, you are asking for reward. Be off or I will call the police.” The beggar could not bear the insulting words and said, "I have not stolen anything. I am ready to go to the court." In the court, the judge listened to both of them and said, "I trust both of you. I shall do justice. Merchant, you say that there were 200 gold coins in the wallet but the wallet which the beggar found had only 100 coins. This means that this wallet is not yours. Since there is no claimant to this wallet, I shall deposit half the coins to the treasury and half will be given to the beggar." The dishonest merchant could do nothing but lick his own feet. Now, he could not claim the wallet. The beggar got the reward for his honesty.

What was the reaction of the merchant when the beggar asked for the reward?