‘I wouldn’t tell you its value till those people were gone, lest any should take it from you; but this is its value; if you put your fingers in, you’ll find a scudo there, and after that another, and another, as many as ever you will; there will always be one.’
Then he called his youngest son, and said:
‘See what I have given you.’
And he answered:
‘Yes, father, it’s a very nice horn; and when I am starving hungry I can cheat myself into being content by playing on it.’
‘Silly boy!’ answered the father; ‘that is not its use. I wouldn’t tell you its value while those people were here, lest they should take it from you. Its value is this, that whenever you want anything you have only to sound it, and one will come who will bring whatever you want, be it a dinner, a suit of clothes, a palace, or an army.’
After this the father died, and each found himself well provided with the legacy he had given him.
It happened that one day as the second son[3] was passing under the window of the palace a waiting-maid looked out and said: ‘Can you play at cards?’
‘As well as most,’ answered the youth.
‘Very well, then; come up,’ answered the waiting-maid; ‘for the queen wants some one to play with her.’