SIR，Youdidnotsupposethatanybodywouldhavethecuriositytoknowwhowewere；butitseemstherearepeoplewhoaretryingtomakeitout，thoughtheyarenotveryhappyintheirconjectures。SometakemeforadoctoroftheSorbonne；othersascribemyletterstofourorfivepersons，who，likeme，areneitherpriestsnorChurchmen。
AllthesefalsesurmisesconvincemethatIhavesucceededprettywellinmyobject，whichwastoconcealmyselffromallbutyourselfandtheworthymonk，whostillcontinuestobearwithmyvisits，whileI
stillcontrive，thoughwithconsiderabledifficulty，tobearwithhisconversations。Iamobliged，however，torestrainmyself；for，werehetodiscoverhowmuchIamshockedathiscommunications，hewoulddiscontinuethemandthusputitoutofmypowertofulfilthepromiseIgaveyou，ofmakingyouacquaintedwiththeirmorality。
YououghttothinkagreatdealoftheviolencewhichIthusdotomyownfeelings。Itisnoeasymatter，Icanassureyou，tostandstillandseethewholesystemofChristianethicsunderminedbysuchasetofmonstrousprinciples，withoutdaringtoputinawordofflatcontradictionagainstthem。But，afterhavingbornesomuchforyoursatisfaction，IamresolvedIshallburstoutformyownsatisfactionintheend，whenhisstockofinformationhasbeenexhausted。Meanwhile，IshallrepressmyfeelingsasmuchasI
possiblycanforIfindthatthemoreIholdmytongue，heisthemorecommunicative。ThelasttimeIsawhim，hetoldmesomanythingsthatIshallhavesomedifficultyinrepeatingthemall。Onthepointofrestitutionyouwillfindtheyhavesomemostconvenientprinciples。
For，howeverthegoodmonkpalliateshismaxims，thosewhichIamabouttolaybeforeyoureallygotosanctioncorruptjudges，usurers，bankrupts，thieves，prostitutesandsorcerers—allofwhomaremostliberallyabsolvedfromtheobligationofrestoringtheirill—gottengains。Itwasthusthemonkresumedtheconversation：
\"Atthecommencementofourinterviews，Iengagedtoexplaintoyouthemaximsofourauthorsforallranksandclasses；andyouhavealreadyseenthosethatrelatetobeneficiaries，topriests，tomonks，todomestics，andtogentlemen。Letusnowtakeacursoryglanceattheremaining，andbeginwiththejudges。
\"NowIamgoingtotellyouoneofthemostimportantandadvantageousmaximswhichourfathershavelaiddownintheirfavour。ItsauthoristhelearnedCastroPalao，oneofourfour—and—twentyelders。Hiswordsare：’Mayajudge，inaquestionofrightandwrong，pronounceaccordingtoaprobableopinion，inpreferencetothemoreprobableopinion？Hemay，eventhoughitshouldbecontrarytohisownjudgement—imocontrapropriamopinionem。’\"
\"Well，father，\"criedI，\"thatisaveryfaircommencement！Thejudges，surely，aregreatlyobligedtoyou；andIamsurprisedthattheyshouldbesohostile，aswehavesometimesobserved，toyourprobabilities，seeingthesearesofavourabletothem。Foritwouldappearfromthisthatyougivethemthesamepowerovermen’sfortunesasyouhavegiventoyourselvesovertheirconsciences。\"
\"Youperceivewearefarfrombeingactuatedbyself—interest，\"
returnedhe；\"wehavehadnootherendinviewthanthereposeoftheirconsciences；andtothesameusefulpurposehasourgreatMolinadevotedhisattention，inregardtothepresentswhichmaybemadethem。Toremoveanyscrupleswhichtheymightentertaininacceptingoftheseoncertainoccasions，hehasbeenatthepainstodrawoutalistofallthosecasesinwhichbribesmaybetakenwithagoodconscience，provided，atleast，therebenospeciallawforbiddingthem。Hesays：’Judgesmayreceivepresentsfrompartieswhentheyaregiventhemeitherforfriendship’ssake，oringratitudeforsomeformeractofjustice，ortoinducethemtogivejusticeinfuture，ortoobligethemtopayparticularattentiontotheircase，ortoengagethemtodespatchitpromptly。’ThelearnedEscobardelivershimselftothesameeffect：’Iftherebeanumberofpersons，noneofwhomhavemorerightthananothertohavetheircausesdisposedof，willthejudgewhoacceptsofsomethingfromoneofthem，oncondition—
expacto—oftakinguphiscausefirst，beguiltyofsin？Certainlynot，accordingtoLayman；for，incommonequity，hedoesnoinjurytotherestbygrantingtoone，inconsiderationofhispresent，whathewasatlibertytogranttoanyofthemhepleased；andbesides，beingunderanequalobligationtothemallinrespectoftheirright，hebecomesmoreobligedtotheindividualwhofurnishedthedonation，whotherebyacquiredforhimselfapreferenceabovetherest—apreferencewhichseemscapableofapecuniaryvaluation—
quaeobligatiovideturpretioaestimabilis。’\"
\"Mayitpleaseyourreverence，\"saidI，\"aftersuchapermission，Iamsurprisedthatthefirstmagistratesofthekingdomshouldknownobetter。ForthefirstpresidenthasactuallycarriedanorderinParliamenttopreventcertainclerksofcourtfromtakingmoneyforthatverysortofpreference—asignthatheisfarfromthinkingitallowableinjudges；andeverybodyhasapplaudedthisasareformofgreatbenefittoallparties。\"
Theworthymonkwassurprisedatthispieceofintelligence，andreplied：\"Areyousureofthat？Iheardnothingaboutit。Ouropinion，recollect，isonlyprobable；thecontraryisprobablealso。\"
\"Totellyouthetruth，father，\"saidI，\"peoplethinkthatthefirstpresidenthasactedmorethanprobablywell，andthathehasthusputastoptoacourseofpubliccorruptionwhichhasbeentoolongwinkedat。\"
\"Iamnotfarfrombeingofthesamemind，\"returnedhe；\"butletuswaivethatpoint，andsaynomoreaboutthejudges。\"
\"Youarequiteright，sir，\"saidI；\"indeed，theyarenothalfthankfulenoughforallyouhavedoneforthem。\"
\"Thatisnotmyreason，\"saidthefather；\"butthereissomuchtobesaidonallthedifferentclassesthatwemuststudybrevityoneachofthem。Letusnowsayawordortwoaboutmenofbusiness。
Youareawarethatourgreatdifficultywiththesegentlemenistokeepthemfromusury—anobjecttoaccomplishwhichourfathershavebeenatparticularpains；fortheyholdthisviceinsuchabhorrencethatEscobardeclares’itisheresytosaythatusuryisnosin’；
andFatherBaunyhasfilledseveralpagesofhisSummaryofSinswiththepainsandpenaltiesduetousurers。Hedeclaresthem’infamousduringtheirlife，andunworthyofsepultureaftertheirdeath。’\"
\"Odear！\"criedI，\"Ihadnoideahewassosevere。\"
\"Hecanbesevereenoughwhenthereisoccasionforit，\"saidthemonk；\"butthenthislearnedcasuist，havingobservedthatsomearealluredintousurymerelyfromtheloveofgain，remarksinthesameplacethat’hewouldconfernosmallobligationonsociety，who，whileheguardeditagainsttheevileffectsofusury，andofthesinwhichgivesbirthtoit，wouldsuggestamethodbywhichone’smoneymightsecureaslarge，ifnotalargerprofit，insomehonestandlawfulemploymentthanhecouldderivefromusuriousdealings。\"
\"Undoubtedly，father，therewouldbenomoreusurersafterthat。\"
\"Accordingly，\"continuedhe，\"ourcasuisthassuggested’ageneralmethodforallsortsofpersons—gentlemen，presidents，councillors，’&；c。；andaverysimpleprocessitis，consistingonlyintheuseofcertainwordswhichmustbepronouncedbythepersonintheactoflendinghismoney；afterwhichhemaytakehisinterestforitwithoutfearofbeingausurer，whichhecertainlywouldbeonanyotherplan。\"
\"Andpraywhatmaythosemysteriouswordsbe，father？\"
\"Iwillgiveyouthemexactlyinhisownwords，\"saidthefather；\"forhehaswrittenhisSummaryinFrench，youknow，’thatitmaybeunderstoodbyeverybody，’ashesaysinthepreface：’Thepersonfromwhomtheloanisaskedmustanswer，then，inthismanner：Ihavegotnomoneytolend，Ihavegotalittle，however，tolayoutforanhonestandlawfulprofit。Ifyouareanxioustohavethesumyoumentioninordertomakesomethingofitbyyourindustry，dividingtheprofitandlossbetweenus，Imayperhapsbeabletoaccommodateyou。ButnowIthinkofit，asitmaybeamatterofdifficultytoagreeabouttheprofit，ifyouwillsecuremeacertainportionofit，andgivemesomuchformyprincipal，sothatitincurnorisk，wemaycometotermsmuchsooner，andyoushalltouchthecashimmediately。’Isnotthataneasyplanforgainingmoneywithoutsin？AndhasnotFatherBaunygoodreasonforconcludingwiththesewords：’Such，inmyopinion，isanexcellentplanbywhichagreatmanypeople，whonowprovokethejustindignationofGodbytheirusuries，extortions，andillicitbargains，mightsavethemselves，inthewayofmakinggood，honest，andlegitimateprofits’？\"
\"Osir！\"Iexclaimed，\"whatpotentwordsthesemustbe！
DoubtlesstheymustpossesssomelatentvirtuetochaseawaythedemonofusurywhichIknownothingof，for，inmypoorjudgement，I
alwaysthoughtthatthatviceconsistedinrecoveringmoremoneythatwhatwaslent。\"
\"Youknowlittleaboutitindeed，\"hereplied。\"Usury，accordingtoourfathers，consistsinlittlemorethantheintentionoftakingtheinterestasusurious。Escobar，accordingly，showsyouhowyoumayavoidusurybyasimpleshiftoftheintention。’Itwouldbedownrightusury，’sayshe’totakeinterestfromtheborrower，ifweshouldexactitasdueinpointofjustice；butifonlyexactedasdueinpointofgratitude，itisnotusury。Again，itisnotlawfultohavedirectlytheintentionofprofitingbythemoneylent；buttoclaimitthroughthemediumofthebenevolenceoftheborrower—
mediabenevolentia—isnotusury。’Thesearesubtlemethods；but，tomymind，thebestofthemall（forwehaveagreatchoiceofthem）
isthatoftheMohatrabargain。\"
\"TheMohatra，father！\"
\"Youarenotacquaintedwithit，Isee，\"returnedhe。\"Thenameistheonlystrangethingaboutit。Escobarwillexplainittoyou：
’TheMohatrabargainiseffectedbytheneedypersonpurchasingsomegoodsatahighpriceandoncredit，inordertosellthemoveragain，atthesametimeandtothesamemerchant，forreadymoneyandatacheaprate。’ThisiswhatwecalltheMohatra—asortofbargain，youperceive，bywhichapersonreceivesacertainsumofreadymoneybybecomingboundtopaymore。\"
\"But，sir，IreallythinknobodybutEscobarhasemployedsuchatermasthat；isittobefoundinanyotherbook？\"
\"Howlittleyoudoknowofwhatisgoingon，tobesure！\"criedthefather。\"Why，thelastworkontheologicalmorality，printedatParisthisveryyear，speaksoftheMohatra，andlearnedly，too。ItiscalledEpilogusSummarum，andisanabridgmentofallthesummariesofdivinity—extractedfromSuarez，Sanchez，Lessius，Fagundez，Hurtado，andothercelebratedcasuists，asthetitlebears。Thereyouwillfinditsaid，onp。54，that’theMohatrabargaintakesplacewhenamanwhohasoccasionfortwentypistolespurchasesfromamerchantgoodstotheamountofthirtypistoles，payablewithinayear，andsellsthembacktohimonthespotfortwentypistolesreadymoney。’ThisshowsyouthattheMohatraisnotsuchanunheard—oftermasyousupposed。\"
\"But，father，isthatsortofbargainlawful？\"
\"Escobar，\"repliedhe，\"tellsusinthesameplacethattherearelawswhichprohibititunderveryseverepenalties。\"
\"Itisuseless，then，Isuppose？\"
\"Notatall；Escobar，inthesamepassage，suggestsexpedientsformakingitlawful：’Itisso，eventhoughtheprincipalintentionbothofthebuyerandselleristomakemoneybythetransaction，providedtheseller，indisposingofthegoods，doesnotexceedtheirhighestprice，andinre—purchasingthemdoesnotgobelowtheirlowestprice，andthatnopreviousbargainhasbeenmade，expresslyorotherwise。’Lessius，however，maintainsthat’eventhoughthemerchanthassoldhisgoods，withtheintentionofre—purchasingthematthelowestprice，heisnotboundtomakerestitutionoftheprofitthusacquired，unless，perhaps，asanactofcharity，inthecaseofthepersonfromwhomithadbeenexactedbeinginpoorcircumstances，andnoteventhen，ifhecannotdoitwithoutinconvenience—sicommodenonpotest。’Thisistheutmostlengthtowhichtheycouldgo。\"
\"Indeed，sir，\"saidI，\"anyfurtherindulgencewould，Ishouldthink，berathertoomuch。\"
\"Oh，ourfathersknowverywellwhenitistimeforthemtostop！\"
criedthemonk。\"Somuch，then，fortheutilityoftheMohatra。I
mighthavementionedseveralothermethods，butthesemaysuffice；andIhavenowtosayalittleinregardtothosewhoareinembarrassedcircumstances。Ourcasuistshavesoughttorelievethem，accordingtotheirconditionoflife。For，iftheyhavenotenoughofpropertyforadecentmaintenance，andatthesametimeforpayingtheirdebts，theypermitthemtosecureaportionbymakingabankruptcywiththeircreditors。ThishasbeendecidedbyLessius，andconfirmedbyEscobar，asfollows：’Mayapersonwhoturnsbankrupt，withagoodconsciencekeepbackasmuchofhispersonalestateasmaybenecessarytomaintainhisfamilyinarespectableway—neindecorevivat？Ihold，withLessius，thathemay，eventhoughhemayhaveacquiredhiswealthunjustlyandbynotoriouscrimes—exinjustiliaetnotoriodelicto；
only，inthiscase，heisnotatlibertytoretainsolargeanamountasheotherwisemight。’\"
\"Indeed，father！whatastrangesortofcharityisthis，toallowpropertytoremaininthehandsofthemanwhohasacquireditbyrapine，tosupporthiminhisextravaganceratherthangointothehandsofhiscreditors，towhomitlegitimatelybelongs！\"
\"Itisimpossibletopleaseeverybody，\"repliedthefather；\"andwehavemadeitourparticularstudytorelievetheseunfortunatepeople。ThispartialitytothepoorhasinducedourgreatVasquez，citedbyCastroPalao，tosaythat’ifonesawathiefgoingtorobapoorman，itwouldbelawfultodiverthimfromhispurposebypointingouttohimsomerichindividual，whomhemightrobinplaceoftheother。’IfyouhavenotaccesstoVasquezorCastroPalao，youwillfindthesamethinginyourcopyofEscobar；for，asyouareaware，hisworkislittlemorethanacompilationfromtwenty—fourofthemostcelebratedofourfathers。Youwillfinditinhistreatise，entitledThePracticeofourSociety，intheMatterofCharitytowardsourNeighbours。\"
\"Averysingularkindofcharitythis，\"Iobserved，\"tosaveonemanfromsufferingloss，byinflictingituponanother！ButI
supposethat，tocompletethecharity，thecharitableadviserwouldbeboundinconsciencetorestoretotherichmanthesumwhichhehadmadehimlose？\"
\"Notatall，sir，\"returnedthemonk；\"forhedidnotrobtheman—
heonlyadvisedtheothertodoit。ButonlyattendtothisnotabledecisionofFatherBauny，onacasewhichwillstillmoreastonishyou，andinwhichyouwouldsupposetherewasamuchstrongerobligationtomakerestitution。Herearehisidenticalwords：’A
personasksasoldiertobeathisneighbour，ortosetfiretothebarnofamanthathasinjuredhim。Thequestioniswhether，intheessenceofthesoldier，thepersonwhoemployedhimtocommittheseoutragesisboundtomakereparationoutofhisownpocketforthedamagethathasfollowed？Myopinionisthatheisnot。Fornonecanbeheldboundtorestitution，wheretherehasbeennoviolationofjustice；andisjusticeviolatedbyaskinganothertodousafavour？Astothenatureoftherequestwhichhemade，heisatlibertyeithertoacknowledgeordenyit；towhateversidehemayincline，itisamatterofmerechoice；nothingobligeshimtoit，unlessitmaybethegoodness，gentleness，andeasinessofhisdisposition。Ifthesoldier，therefore，makesnoreparationforthemischiefhehasdone，itoughtnottobeexactedfromhimatwhoserequestheinjuredtheinnocent。’\"
Thissentencehadverynearlybrokenupthewholeconversation，forIwasonthepointofburstingintoalaughattheideaofthegoodnessandgentlenessofaburnerofbarns，andatthesestrangesophismswhichwouldexemptfromthedutyofrestitutiontheprincipalandrealincendiary，whomthecivilmagistratewouldnotexemptfromthehalter。But，hadInotrestrainedmyself，theworthymonk，whowasperfectlyserious，wouldhavebeendispleased；heproceeded，therefore，withoutanyalterationofcountenance，inhisobservations。
\"Fromsuchamassofevidence，yououghttobesatisfiednowofthefutilityofyourobjections；butwearelosingsightofoursubject。Torevert，then，tothesuccourwhichourfathersapplytopersonsinstraitenedcircumstances，Lessius，amongothers，maintainsthat’itislawfultosteal，notonlyinacaseofextremenecessity，butevenwherethenecessityisgrave，thoughnotextreme。’\"
\"Thisissomewhatstartling，father，\"saidI。\"Thereareveryfewpeopleinthisworldwhodonotconsidertheircasesofnecessitytobegraveones，andtowhom，accordingly，youwouldnotgivetherightofstealingwithagoodconscience。And，thoughyoushouldrestrictthepermissiontothoseonlywhoarereallyandtrulyinthatcondition，youopenthedoortoaninfinitenumberofpettylarcenieswhichthemagistrateswouldpunishinspiteofyourgravenecessity，andwhichyououghttorepressonahigherprinciple—
youwhoareboundbyyourofficetobetheconservators，notofjusticeonly，butofcharitybetweenmanandman，agracewhichthispermissionwoulddestroy。Forafterall，now，isitnotaviolationofthelawofcharity，andofourdutytoourneighbour，todepriveamanofhispropertyinordertoturnittoourownadvantage？Such，atleast，isthewayIhavebeentaughttothinkhitherto。\"
\"Thatwillnotalwaysholdtrue，\"repliedthemonk；\"forourgreatMolinahastaughtusthat’theruleofcharitydoesnotbindustodepriveourselvesofaprofit，inordertherebytosaveourneighbourfromacorrespondingloss。’Headvancesthisincorroborationofwhathehadundertakentoprove—’thatoneisnotboundinconsciencetorestorethegoodswhichanotherhadputintohishandsinordertocheathiscreditors。’Lessiusholdsthesameopinion，onthesameground。Allowmetosay，sir，thatyouhavetoolittlecompassionforpeopleindistress。Ourfathershavehadmorecharitythanthatcomesto：theyrenderamplejusticetothepoor，aswellastherich；and，Imayadd，tosinnersaswellassaints。
For，thoughfarfromhavinganypredilectionforcriminals，theydonotscrupletoteachthatthepropertygainedbycrimemaybelawfullyretained。’Noperson，’saysLessius，speakinggenerally，’isbound，eitherbythelawofnatureorbypositivelaws（thatis，byanylaw），tomakerestitutionofwhathasbeengainedbycommittingacriminalaction，suchasadultery，eventhoughthatactioniscontrarytojustice。’For，asEscobarcommentsonthiswriter，’thoughthepropertywhichawomanacquiresbyadulteryiscertainlygainedinanillicitway，yetonceacquired，thepossessionofitislawful—
quamvismulierilliciteacquisat，licitetamenretinetacquisita。’
Itisonthisprinciplethatthemostcelebratedofourwritershaveformallydecidedthatthebribereceivedbyajudgefromoneofthepartieswhohasabadcase，inordertoprocureanunjustdecisioninhisfavour，themoneygotbyasoldierforkillingaman，ortheemolumentsgainedbyinfamouscrimes，maybelegitimatelyretained。
Escobar，whohascollectedthisfromanumberofourauthors，laysdownthisgeneralruleonthepointthat’themeansacquiredbyinfamouscourses，suchasmurder，unjustdecisions，profligacy，&；c。，arelegitimatelypossessed，andnoneareobligedtorestorethem。’
And，further，’theymaydisposeofwhattheyhavereceivedforhomicide，profligacy，&；c。，astheyplease；forthepossessionisjust，andtheyhaveacquiredaproprietyinthefruitsoftheiriniquity。’\"
\"Mydearfather，\"criedI，\"thisisamodeofacquisitionwhichIneverheardofbefore；andIquestionmuchifthelawwillholditgood，orifitwillconsiderassassination，injustice，andadultery，asgivingvalidtitlestoproperty。\"
\"Idonotknowwhatyourlaw—booksmaysayonthepoint，\"returnedthemonk；\"butIknowwellthatourbooks，whicharethegenuinerulesforconscience，bearmeoutinwhatIsay。Itistruetheymakeoneexception，inwhichrestitutionispositivelyenjoined；thatis，inthecaseofanyreceivingmoneyfromthosewhohavenorighttodisposeoftheirpropertysuchasminorsandmonks。’Unless，’saysthegreatMolina，’awomanhasreceivedmoneyfromonewhocannotdispose’
ofit，suchasamonkoraminor—nisimulieraccepissetabeoquialienarenonpotest，utareligiosoetfiliofamilias。Inthiscaseshemustgivebackthemoney。’AndsosaysEscobar。\"
\"Mayitpleaseyourreverence，\"saidI，\"themonks，Isee，aremorehighlyfavouredinthiswaythanotherpeople。\"
\"Bynomeans，\"hereplied；\"havetheynotdoneasmuchgenerallyforallminors，inwhichclassmonksmaybeviewedascontinuingalltheirlives？Itisbarelyanactofjusticetomakethemanexception；
butwithregardtoallotherpeople，thereisnoobligationwhatevertorefundtothemthemoneyreceivedfromthemforacriminalaction。For，ashasbeenamplyshownbyLessius，’awickedactionmayhaveitspricefixedinmoney，bycalculatingtheadvantagereceivedbythepersonwhoordersittobedoneandthetroubletakenbyhimwhocarriesitintoexecution；onwhichaccountthelatterisnotboundtorestorethemoneyhegotforthedeed，whateverthatmayhavebeen—homicide，injustice，orafoulact’（forsucharetheillustrationswhichheuniformlyemploysinthisquestion）；
’unlessheobtainedthemoneyfromthosehavingnorighttodisposeoftheirproperty。Youmayobject，perhaps，thathewhohasobtainedmoneyforapieceofwickednessissinningand，therefore，oughtneithertoreceivenorretainit。ButIreplythat，afterthethingisdone，therecanbenosineitheringivingorinreceivingpaymentforit。’ThegreatFiliutiusentersstillmoreminutelyintodetails，remarking’thatamanisboundinconsciencetovaryhispaymentsforactionsofthissort，accordingtothedifferentconditionsoftheindividualswhocommitthem，andsomemaybringahigherpricethanothers。’Thisheconfirmsbyverysolidarguments。\"
Hethenpointedouttome，inhisauthors，somethingsofthisnaturesoindelicatethatIshouldbeashamedtorepeatthem；andindeedthemonkhimself，whoisagoodman，wouldhavebeenhorrifiedatthemhimself，wereitnotfortheprofoundrespectwhichheentertainsforhisfathers，andwhichmakeshimreceivewithvenerationeverythingthatproceedsfromthem。Meanwhile，I
heldmytongue，notsomuchwiththeviewofallowinghimtoenlargeonthismatterasfrompureastonishmentatfindingthebooksofmeninholyordersstuffedwithsentimentsatoncesohorrible，soiniquitous，andsosilly。Hewenton，therefore，withoutinterruptioninhisdiscourse，concludingasfollows：
\"Fromthesepremisses，ourillustriousMolinadecidesthefollowingquestion（andafterthis，Ithinkyouwillhavegotenough）：
’Ifonehasreceivedmoneytoperpetrateawickedaction，isheobligedtorestoreit？Wemustdistinguishhere，’saysthisgreatman；
’ifhehasnotdonethedeed，hemustgivebackthecash；ifhehas，heisundernosuchobligation！’Sucharesomeofourprinciplestouchingrestitution。Youhavegotagreatdealofinstructionto—day；
andIshouldlike，now，toseewhatproficiencyyouhavemade。Come，then，answermethisquestion：’Isajudge，whohasreceivedasumofmoneyfromoneofthepartiesbeforehim，inordertopronounceajudgementinhisfavour，obligedtomakerestitution？’\"
\"Youwerejusttellingmealittleago，father，thathewasnot。\"
\"Itoldyounosuchthing，\"repliedthefather；\"didIexpressmyselfsogenerally？Itoldyouhewasnotboundtomakerestitution，providedhesucceededingainingthecauseforthepartywhohadthewrongsideofthequestion。Butifamanhasjusticeonhisside，wouldyouhavehimtopurchasethesuccessofhiscause，whichishislegitimateright？Youareveryunconscionable。
Justice，lookyou，isadebtwhichthejudgeowes，andthereforehecannotsellit；buthecannotbesaidtooweinjustice，andthereforehemaylawfullyreceivemoneyforit。Allourleadingauthors，accordingly，agreeinteaching’thatthoughajudgeisboundtorestorethemoneyhehadreceivedfordoinganactofjustice，unlessitwasgivenhimoutofmeregenerosity，heisnotobligedtorestorewhathehasreceivedfromamaninwhosefavourhehaspronouncedanunjustdecision。’\"
Thispreposterousdecisionfairlydumbfoundedme，and，whileIwasmusingonitspernicioustendencies，themonkhadpreparedanotherquestionforme。\"Answermeagain，\"saidhe，\"withalittlemorecircumspection。Tellmenow，’ifamanwhodealsindivinationisobligedtomakerestitutionofthemoneyhehasacquiredintheexerciseofhisart？’\"
\"Justasyouplease，yourreverence，\"saidI。
\"Eh！what！—justasIplease！Indeed，butyouareaprettyscholar！Itwouldseem，accordingtoyourwayoftalking，thatthetruthdependedonourwillandpleasure。Iseethat，inthepresentcase，youwouldneverfinditoutyourself：soImustsendyoutoSanchezforasolutionoftheproblem—nolessamanthanSanchez。