a judge was awakened1 by the noise of a lawyer prosecuting2 a thief.

rising in wrath3 he was about to sentence the thief to life

imprisonment4 when the latter said:

"i beg that you will set me free, and i will some day requite5 your

kindness."

pleased and flattered to be bribed6, although by nothing but an

empty promise, the judge let him go. soon afterward7 he found that

it was more than an empty promise, for, having become a thief, he

was himself set free by the other, who had become a judge.