The servant overheard his remark, and thought he meant to say he was the first thief, which was actually the case, so he was sore troubled, and said to his comrades—
"The doctor knows everything. Things will certainly fall out ill, for he said I was the first thief."
The second servant would not believe what he said, but at last he was obliged, for when he carried the second dish into the room, the doctor remarked to his wife—
"Grethel, that is the second."
The second servant was now as much frightened as the first, and was pleased to leave the apartment. The third served no better, for the doctor said—
"Grethel, that is the third."
Now the fourth carried in a dish which had a cover on it, and the nobleman desired the doctor to show his skill by guessing what was under the cover. Now it was a crab. The doctor looked at the dish, and then at the cover, and could not at all divine what they contained, nor how to get out of the scrape. At length he said, half to himself and half aloud—
"Alas! poor crab!"
When the nobleman heard this, he cried out—
"You have guessed it, and now I am sure you will know where my money is."