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Rh The third replied:—

When the students had finished reciting their compositions, they could not agree as to which of them had succeeded best, and was entitled to his dinner.

Just at that moment a soldier overtook them, so they asked him to stop awhile and settle their dispute: "Come here, comrade, tell us what you think of the couplets we have made, and you shall have your dinner for nothing." Here they all three read their compositions, and when the soldier had heard them out, he said, "All three couplets are excellent, so now for my trouble you gentlemen may order dinner for four."

"Oh, yes—to be sure—of course," replied the three students at once; but being annoyed to find that they had been sold by a soldier, they agreed among themselves to trick him for his impudence. Coming to an inn, they entered and ordered dinner for four; but privately they told the hostess to cook a large piece of sausage, and send it to table cut into three equal parts. When they sat down, one of the students thrust his fork into one of the pieces of sausage, and said:—