an old woman who had bad eyes called in a clever doctor, who agreed for a certain sum to cure them. he was a very clever physician, but he was also a very great rogue; and when he called each day and bound up the old woman's eyes he took advantage of her blindness to carry away with him some article of her furniture. this went on until he pronounced his patient cured and her room was nearly bare.

he claimed his reward, but the old woman protested that, so far from being cured, her sight was worse than ever.

"we will soon see about that, my good dame," said he; and she was shortly after summoned to appear in court.

"may it please your honour," said she to the judge, "before i called in this doctor i could see a score of things in my room that now, when he says i am cured, i cannot see at all."

this opened the eyes of the court to the knavery of the doctor, who was forced to give the old woman her property back again, and was not allowed to claim a penny of his fee.