“Look,” they said, “some one has left this cloth; let us keep it.” They hid the money and carried off the cloth.
In the morning, when Giucca got up, he said, “Mother, I am going to fetch that money.”
“Very good; be quick about it, and mind they give you the whole of it.”
Giucca went to the statue. “Hallo, mistress, I’ve come for the money!”
The statue said nothing.
“Oh! look here! It must not be the same as yesterday; to-day I want the money. I see you have used the cloth. Give me the money, or let me have the cloth back.”
So he picked up a stone and threw it at her. And then the statue was broken, and all the money began to fall out. Giucca was well pleased; he picked up the money and went home.
“Look, mother, how much money I have brought you! I told you she was a good sort of woman. First she did not want to give it me, but then I threw stones at her, and she gave me all this.”
“But tell me, Giucca, what have you done?”