Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/150

 with drew from his pocket. He was quite surprised to find how heavy it was, for he had not noticed its weight at all as he came along; and you may be sure he was still more surprised, when, breaking it in two, no end of bright gold pieces rolled out upon the floor. At sight of this treasure Clara was not a little alarmed, for it at once struck her that this must be a part of the booty taken from the Jew; and that, consequently, her lover was not so innocent as the respectable gentleman whom she had met in the mountains had made him out to be. But Benedict assured her that his pious confessor had presented him with this treasure, probably, that it might enable them to establish themselves in life. And such frankness and sincerity was there in his voice and manner, that Clara at once saw this to be the real truth. The lovers gave a thousand heart’s thanks to their generous benefactor, and that very day they quitted their native town and went to Prague, where Master Benedict, with Clara his wife, lived happily together for a great many years, well to do as reputable citizens, and brought up a large family in comfort. And the fear of the gallows left on him an impression so salutary, that, contrary to the whole practice of the trade, to the very nature of tailors, he never cheated his customers, never cabbaged the smallest shred.

At the very moment when Clara, to her great joy, heard Benedict’s finger tapping at the window,