Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/44

28 why did you acknowledge yourself to be the murderer?"

The merchant replied: "My lord, this man is my benefactor. I have enjoyed his hospitality, and while at his home he bestowed upon me a wife, whom he had educated for his own, and who possessed great wealth. When, therefore, I saw my friend being led to his death, I proclaimed myself the murderer, hoping thus to take his place. For his love I would willingly perish."

It was now the turn of the third man, who was the real criminal. The judge asked him what he had to say for himself, and he answered:

"When I confessed, I told the truth. The burden which would have been mine had I allowed these two innocent men to suffer death for a crime that was my own would have been too heavy for me to bear, and I preferred to pay the penalty."

For some time the judge considered the stories of the three men, then he said to the last one to speak:

"As you have declared the truth and thereby saved the lives of two innocent men, I