THE MERCHANT
the same desire. You awoke me at an untimely hour! But why could you not rest peacefully before?"
"I lived a foolish, heedless life," replied the ghost. "I had enough of gold and silver, all that I wished for, and even more, but I squandered my wealth on those whom I called my friends, and they helped me faithfully to spend it, until one day I suddenly died. When I arrived at the gate of heaven, Saint Peter told me that I was doomed to walk about at night until I found some one who would permit me to shave him, and who would do me the same service."
"When you are wealthy," observed the young man, "you can always count on a great number of friends. I had many until I lost my wealth."
"Yes," replied the ghost, "I know them all."
"You know them?" cried the merchant, startled by this intelligence.
"Yes; but ask no questions. Put on your clothes and follow me!"
The young man complied, whereupon the ghost seized one of the candlesticks and conducted him into the cellar, where they stopped before a very old iron chest. "This," said the owner of the red mantle, "is yours. Until I was dead I did not know that it existed, but if I had found it before, no doubt its contents would have vanished with the rest of my wealth. This chest is filled with gold coin. When you leave this dismal ruin, which was
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