"Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have seen the light to-day. Give them something at thy good pleasure."
Destiny arose and opened a silver coffer, but this time there were no ducats in it, only silver money mixed with a few pieces of gold. Destiny threw this silver upon the ground, saying:
"Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives."
At daybreak the house had vanished, and there appeared in its place another smaller one. So passed each night; each morning the house became smaller until at last it was only a miserable hut. Destiny then took a spade and began to dig up the earth; his guest did the same, and they dug all day long. When evening came Destiny took a crust of hard bread, broke it in two, and gave half to his companion. This was all their supper, and when they had eaten they went to bed.
Toward midnight again commenced the terrible noise, and in the midst of it a voice was heard, crying:
"Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have come into the world this night. Give them something at thy good pleasure."
Destiny arose, opened a coffer, and began to throw out pebbles among which were mixed some small money, saying as he did so:
"Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives."
When morning came the hut was changed again to a grand palace as it had been on the first day. Then for the first time Destiny spoke to his guest, and said to him:
"Why hast thou come to me?"