Forthwith he drew the fifty roubles from his pocket and gave them to her; the aged woman handed to him a ring.
“Come, take this ring,” quoth she. “Put it only on thy finger nail.”
The young man took the ring, and scarce had he put it on his finger nail ere his yard stretched itself a cubit’s length.
“Well, what of it?” asked the aged woman. “Doth thy yard reach to thy knees?”
“Yea, good woman. It reacheth even below my knees.”
“Now, my little dove, pass the ring down thy whole finger.”
He passed the ring over his entire finger, and his yard lengthened out even unto seven versts.[21]
“Ah! good woman! where shall I lodge it? It will bring me ill fortune with my wife.”
“Thrust up the ring to thy finger nail; thy yard will be but a cubit’s span. This for thy guidance—pay attention and never put the ring beyond thy finger nail.”
He thanked the aged woman, and retook the road homeward; and as he journeyed he rejoiced in that he need not appear before his wife with empty hands.