THE MASTER FOOL
merely shrugged his shoulders, and said: "If you have sold the meat to the dogs you must see how you can obtain your money. I cannot help you collect it." "Well," said the boy to the dog, catching hold of his collar and giving him a thorough shaking, "you are a good specimen, aren't you?"
Upon this the king's daughter, who had listened to the whole story, was unable to keep herself from laughing. "Now you may secure a good price for your meat," said the king to the lad, "for you are free to marry my daughter." "No, I don't care for her," answered he. "You don't!" said the king; "well and good, I will give you a sum of money, for really I would rather that you should not marry her." "Money I don't care for," declared the boy. "If money cannot satisfy you," inquired the king, "what do you wish?" "I wish sixty raps of bastinado for my meat," declared the boy. "You shall have them," answered the king, "although that seems a poor reward." "Come here," continued he, turning to his men, "and give this boy sixty raps of bastinado." "No, thank you," said he; "the sentinels must receive them; they forced me to promise each of them one-half of the payment for the meat." Thus the guardsmen received their dues. "Listen to me!" now said the king. "I am sure that you are not so foolish as you seem. Will you not marry my daughter?" "Yes, I will," answered the boy; "since the soldiers have received
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