“Ah! my daughter! here in sooth is a goodly workman. I will hire him for a year.”
And when the workman came to receive his wage, the pope said:
“Friend, hire thyself to me for a year.”
“I am willing,” quoth the workman; and he hired himself to the pope. Most contented, too, was the pope’s daughter, and when night came she sought the workman, saying:
“Comb me.”
“Nay, I will not comb thee for nought. Give me one hundred roubles. Buy the comb.”
The pope’s daughter gave him one hundred roubles, and nightly he combed her.
Came a time when the workman fell out with the pope, saying:
“Render me my wage, little father.”
His wage rendered, the workman went his way. Now the pope’s daughter was not present when these things were done, but when she returned to the house she inquired: