The Abbot now knew why he had been summoned, and smiled. “Sir,” said he, “does that astonish you? However, it is very simple; we eat, we drink, we sleep, and worry over nothing.”
“Well, Reverend Abbot, that state of things must come to an end,” said the Emperor, “and in order that you may have your share of trouble, I command you to bring me to-morrow the answers to the three following questions:
“First, What is the depth of the sea?
“Secondly, How many cows’ tails would it take to measure the distance between the earth and the sun?
“Thirdly, What am I thinking about?
HOW MANY COWS’ TAILS WOULD IT TAKE TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE SUN?
“Try to please me or I shall exact a penalty from you.”
On hearing these words, the Abbot returned to his convent with a heavy heart. From that moment he knew no peace. He cudgelled his brains as to what answer he could make to the Emperor.
When the little bell of the abbey rang, summoning the monks to prayer in the chapel, the Abbot continued to pace his garden. He was so deep in thought that he was quite oblivious of what was taking place around him. Even if a thunderbolt had fallen at his feet, he would not have noticed it.