I believe, O my God, that thou didst allow this for no
other reason than that this man who was in the future to prove so
great should now begin to learn that, in making just decisions, a
man should not readily be condemned by other men with reckless
credulity.
For as he was walking up and down alone before the judgment
seat with his tablets and pen, lo, a young man -- another one of
the scholars, who was the real thief -- secretly brought a hatchet
and, without Alypius seeing him, got in as far as the leaden bars
which protected the silversmith shop and began to hack away at the
lead gratings. But when the noise of the hatchet was heard the
silversmiths below began to call to each other in whispers and
sent men to arrest whomsoever they should find. The thief heard
their voices and ran away, leaving his hatchet because he was
afraid to be caught with it. Now Alypius, who had not seen him
come in, got a glimpse of him as he went out and noticed that he
went off in great haste. Being curious to know the reasons, he
went up to the place, where he found the hatchet, and stood
wondering and pondering when, behold, those that were sent caught
him alone, holding the hatchet which had made the noise which had
startled them and brought them there.
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