Having put it away in that manner, those three still borrowing a little money from suitable persons of the neighbourhood, went again to dig [for] gems.
During the time while they were staying in that way, Little Heṭṭiyā, having made two false keys for Big Heṭṭiyā’s box and Middle Heṭṭiyā’s box, and opened both the boxes, taking out his own box and opening that box with the key he had, took the gem and hid it. This one, having thrown away both the false keys, remained like a man who had not committed theft.
Not a long time after that, the men who lent the money came to ask for the money. Until the time when the money was finished they dug [for] gems; from it also they obtained nothing.
After that, these three persons spoke to the creditors, “Having sold the gem which we have, let us give the money to these people.”
Having said so, the whole three having come, Big Heṭṭiyā, with the key that he had, opened the big box; Middle Heṭṭiyā, with the key that he had, opened [his]; Little Heṭṭiyā, with the key that he had, opened [his]. When they looked there was no gem.
After that, the three keys being in the hands of the three persons, having said, “Who opened [the boxes]?” the three persons struck each other.
[After] striking, they went near the King for a law suit. Having gone, the whole three persons said, “O Lord, Your Majesty, we three had a gem. Having put the gem into a little box, and put that into a still larger box, and put that into a still larger box, we three persons kept in our hands the three keys. Thereafter, when we three persons came together and looked [for it], it was not [there]. Because of it, Sir, somehow or other you must clear up this for us.”
After that, the King made much effort to sift the law suit. He being unable to explain the case, began to postpone it.
The King’s Queen having seen that the three Heṭṭiyās are coming every day in this manner to the court of justice, one day asked the King, “O Lord, Your Majesty, three Heṭṭiyās come every day to the court of justice. Why?” she asked.
The King said, “The three Heṭṭiyās having dug [for] gems, there was one gem. Little Heṭṭiyā having made a box and put it in, locked it and kept the key near him. Middle Heṭṭiyā having made a larger box than that, and placed that Little Heṭṭiyā’s little box inside it, locked it and kept that key. Big Heṭṭiyā having made a large box, taking both those boxes placed them inside that box, and having locked it, he kept that key. Leaving the keys in the hands of the three persons, the gem was missing. I have been unable to explain the case. Because of it I postpone it every day,” he said.