The merchant hired a boy to go with him to buy goods. And upon his return he promised to give him money. The trip lasted two years and was not easy for the boy, but upon payment, the merchant gave him only a penny knife. The boy began to cry and went to the judge to complain.
The judge called the merchant and told him:
- This boy says that you did not pay him the promised payment.
“I paid him everything,” answered the merchant.
- You're lying! - the boy shouted. “You didn’t give me anything except this little knife.”
- Is that so? - asked the judge.
“Yes,” answered the merchant. “After all, I promised, when we return from the trip, to give him something to eat meat with.” So I kept my promise.
“Now I understand everything,” said the judge. He ordered the servant to bring the meat and put the knife on it, which the merchant gave to the boy.
- Knife, eat meat! - exclaimed the judge. But the knife lay motionless.
- Do you all see that the knife doesn’t eat meat? - asked the judge. “They eat meat with their teeth, so pull out the merchant’s teeth and give it to the boy.”
They grabbed the merchant and began to pull out his teeth.
- Oh dear, wait! “I will give the boy whatever you order,” the merchant shouted.
“Okay,” said the judge, “you will have to buy back your teeth.” For each tooth you will pay one pound.
It turned out that the merchant had to pay the boy thirty-two pounds. So he did. And the judge also forced him to pay legal fees.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru