When Friedel arose his hump was gone.

Just then the clock struck one, everything vanished, and the musician found himself alone in the market-place.  Next morning his looking-glass showed him that he had not been dreaming, and in his pocket he found a large sum of money, which made him the equal of the richest in the town.  Overjoyed at the transformation, he lost no time in seeking Agathe’s house.  The sight of his gold turned the scale in his favour, and the wine-merchant consented to his suit.

Now Heinz was inflamed with jealousy, and tried to calumniate his companion by spreading evil stories.  Friedel’s strange adventure leaked abroad, and Heinz determined to try his fortune likewise.  So at the next witch-meeting he hastened to the fish-market, where at the outset everything happened in exactly the same manner.  Heinz was requested to play, but his avaricious gaze was fixed on the golden vessels on the table, and his thoughts were with the large reward he would ask.  Consequently his playing became so discordant that the indignant dancers made him cease.

Kneeling down to receive his reward, he demanded the valuable drinking-cups, whereupon with scornful and mocking words the lady who was the leader of the band fixed on his breast the hump she had taken from Friedel.  Immediately the clock struck one, and all disappeared.  The poor man’s rage was boundless, for he found himself now saddled with two humps.  He became an object of ridicule to the townsfolk, but Friedel pitied him, and maintained him ever after.

The Legend of the Cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle

In former times the zealous and devout inhabitants of Aix-la-Chapelle determined to build a cathedral.  For six months the clang of the hammer and axe resounded with wonderful activity, but, alas! the money which had been supplied by pious Christians for this holy work became exhausted, the wages of the masons were perforce suspended, and with them their desire to hew and hammer, for, after all, men must have money wherewith to feed their families.

Thus the cathedral stood, half finished, resembling a falling ruin.  Moss, grass, and wild parsley flourished in the cracks of the walls, screech-owls already discovered convenient places for their nests, and amorous sparrows hopped lovingly about where holy priests should have been teaching lessons of chastity.

The builders were confounded.  They endeavoured to borrow here and there, but no rich man could be induced to advance the large sum required.  The collections from house to house produced little, so that instead of the much-wished-for golden coins nothing was found in the boxes but copper.  When the magistracy received this report they were out of humour, and looked with desponding countenances toward the cathedral walls, as fathers look upon the remains of favourite children.

At this moment a stranger of commanding figure and something of pride in his voice and bearing entered the council chamber and exclaimed:  “Bon Dieu! it is said that you are out of spirits.  Hem! if nothing but money is wanting, you may console yourselves, gentlemen.  I possess mines of gold and silver, and both can and will most willingly supply you with a ton of them.”