When Matti arrived on foot, tired and travel-stained and shabby, the landlord was amazed.
“It’s fine lords we have nowadays!” he muttered scornfully, and he wished he had not been in such haste to cook the best food in the house. But it was cooked and ready to serve and so, with an ill grace, he served it.
Matti and his man ate their fill of good cabbage soup and fish and fowl tender and juicy.
It quite enraged the landlord to see poor men with such good appetites.
“They eat as if their pockets were lined with gold!” he muttered angrily. “Well, let them eat while they can for they’ll lose their appetites once they see the reckoning!”
When they finished eating, they rested and then called for the reckoning. It was much more than it should have been but neither Matti nor the Servant objected.
“Like a good fellow,” the Servant said, “will you please to lend me your half peck measure.”
“Like a good fellow, indeed!” the landlord muttered to himself. “Who are you to call me a good fellow I’d like to know!”
Nevertheless he went out and got the measure.
“Now, master,” the Servant said, “give me three of your nine silver kopeks.”