A certain man confessed to a friar, and told him that being once at the
plundering of a house it was my intention [152] to find in a certain
drawer a hundred gold florins. But I found the drawer empty; therefore
I believe that I did not sin.
The friar replied, certainly you did sin just the same as if you had
found the florins. The man showed himself much troubled and said: for
the love of God give me the absolution [153]. The friar replied: I
cannot absolve you unless you make restitution. And the man answered,
that I will do with pleasure, but I do not know to whom to make it. The
friar answered: make it to me, and I will dispose of it in the name of
God. The man promised to do this, and went away, and so familiar [154]
had he become with the friar that he returned on the morrow.
Talking with the friar, he said that some one had sent him a fine
sturgeon, and that he would send it to him for dinner. For this the
friar rendered him many thanks.
The man went away, and sent the friar nothing at all, but he returned
to see him a day after with cheerful mien. The friar said: why have you
kept me waiting, and not sent me the sturgeon? [155] The other replied:
did you expect to have it? Yes, certainly, said the friar. And you
haven’t had it? No. Well, then, it is just the same as if you had had
it.