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。