On a time did Owlglass take service with a furrier, and when that it was night, he bade Owlglass get him to work and hang out the skins. But Owlglass loved not the labour, and would fain have escaped therefrom. And he spake unto his master, saying: “How is this that with so ill savour this smelleth. I’ faith, I cannot bear it!” And the furrier answered him and said: “Verily, it seemeth unto me that of this trade knowest thou nought. For an if thou hadst slept only four nights among the furs, then wouldst thou no longer mark their ill savour.” Then said Owlglass: “Four nights will I sleep among the skins, master, and then shall I not mark it.” So the furrier gat him to bed. And behold, Owlglass took the skins which were prepared, and which hung upon the wall, and he took also the skins which were dry; and lastly, took he the wet skins; and he cast them together upon the floor of the loft, and crept in among them and slept until the morning. When that it was day, then rose up his master, and he beheld that the skins were taken from the wall; and he ran unto the loft, and spake unto Owlglass to inquire of him what it might fortune that he knew about the skins. And he perceived not Owlglass; but lo! his eyes fell upon the skins, which, wet and dry, lay together in a heap one with the other. Thereat was he strangely moved, and with a weeping voice called the maid and the women folk; and these cries did cause Owlglass to awake, and he looked forth from among the skins, and said: “Honoured master, what may it be that doth move ye so to cry out and to clamour?” Then did the furrier marvel greatly, and knew not what might be in the heap of skins.

And he opened his mouth, and said unto Owlglass: “Where art thou?” And Owlglass to him answered: “Behold, here am I.” Then said the master: “That good fortune may never come unto thee! Hast taken me the dry furs from the wall, and the wet from the lime-pit, and cast me them together in this heap, so that they be spoiled. What wilt thou with this phantasy?” But the wise and prudent Master Owlglass answered him and said: “How, master, be ye not angry! for an if ye be angry for that I have slept one night amidst the skins, what will ye be when that I have slept the four nights ye enjoined me; for ye said that I knew nought of the labour.” Then said the furrier: “Now liest thou like unto a false and ready knave! I bid thee not carry together the wet and the dry, and sleep amid them after this wise!” Then sought the furrier for a stick, and tried to beat Owlglass. But then went Owlglass towards the door to depart thence; and as he went he met the wife of the furrier, and the maid servant, and they would fain have held him. But he said unto them: “Peace be with ye, good friends, let me hasten for a chirurgeon, for my master hath fallen, and his leg hath broken!” Then they let him go, and ran up the stairs unto the master; but he came running down at a great pace, and overthrew the maid and his good wife, and they all stumbled and fell together. Yet our good master had speedily departed, and gotten him thence with all haste.