“Wish a wish! wish a wish!”
Perr took heart.
“A wi-wi-sh,” said he. “Guilcher cho-o-ose between riches and beauty.”
“Yes, Guilcher chose beauty, and left riches.”
“Well, for my part, I choose what Guilcher left.”
“Well done!” cried the Korils. “Come here, tailor.”
Perr drew near in transport. They took him up as they had done Benead; threw him from hand to hand all round their circle; and when he fell upon his feet, he had between his shoulders what Guilcher had left—that is to say, a hump.
The tailor was no more Balibouzik simply, he was now Tortik-Balibouzik.
The poor deformed creature came back to Loqueltas shamefaced as a dog who has had his tail cut off. As soon as what had happened to him was known, there was not a creature but longed to get sight of him. And every one beholding his back, grown round as that of a well-digger, uttered an exclamation of astonishment. Perr raged beneath his hump, and swore to himself that he would be revenged upon Guilcher; for that he alone was the cause of this misfortune, being a favourite of the Korigans, and having doubtless begged them thus to insult his creditor.
So the eight days once expired, Tortik-Balibouzik said to Benead, that if he could not pay him his five crowns, he would go and send the officers of justice to sell all he had. Benead entreated in vain; the new hunchback would listen to nothing, and announced that the very next day he should send to the fair[3] all his furniture, his tools, and his pig.