Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/109

Rh his, reflected whether his title to it were good. "I will prove," said he to himself, "if God will that the money should be returned to him." Accordingly, he made three cakes, the first of which he filled with earth; the second with the bones of dead men; and in the third, he put a quantity of the gold which he had discovered in the trunk. Friend," said he, addressing the carpenter, "we will eat three cakes, composed of the best meat in my house. Chuse which you will have." The carpenter did as he was directed; he took the cakes and weighed them in his hand, one after another, and finding that with the earth weigh heaviest, he chose it. "And if I want more, my worthy host," added he, "I will have that—" laying his hand upon the cake containing the bones. "You may keep the third cake yourself." "I see clearly," murmured the host, "I see very clearly that God does not will the money to be restored to this wretched man." Calling therefore, the poor and the infirm, the blind and the lame, and opening the cake of gold in the presence of the carpenter, to whom he