Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/151

with curious devices and rich colours, bound with iron, and fastened with silver locks; but filled up with stones. All this was done, and the woman then bade the knight send them by ten porters to the warehouse of the rascally factor. "Let them come one after another, in order; and as soon as the first man has entered, do you boldly demand your money; I trust you will find it restored to you sooner than you expect." Accordingly they proceeded to the factor's house, and the old woman addressed him as follows, "My master, this stranger" (pointing to the artificer of the chests) "lodges with me, and wishes to return to his native land. But first he would deposit his wealth, which is contained in ten chests, under the safeguard of some honourable and faithful person. And because I have heard this character of you, I should be unwilling to let any one else have the care of them." As she spoke, a porter entered with the first chest; and at the same instant the knight appeared, to require his money. The knavish factor, fearing that if he disputed the right of the last, he should lose the golden harvest