it seemed as if the rich man had foreseen what was about to happen, for when three days were gone by, he suddenly dropped down dead. no one knew exactly how it came to pass, but no one grieved for him. when he was buried, the poor man remembered his promise; he would willingly have been released from it, but he thought, "after all, he acted kindly by me. i have fed my hungry children with his corn, and even if that were not the case, where i have once given my promise i must keep it."