BELLACUCCIA.
Reading edition
When he came home, instead of the monkey having been at any mischievous pranks, the whole suite of rooms was put in beautiful order, and out of very scanty materials in the cupboard an excellent dinner was cooked and laid ready.
‘Scimmia bellacuccia! is this your doing!’ said the lawyer, and the monkey nodded assent.
‘Then you are a precious monkey, indeed,’ he replied, and he called it to him and fed it, and gave it part of the dinner.
The next day the monkey did the work of the house, and the lawyer sent away his servant because he had no further need for one, the monkey did all much better and in a more intelligent way.
‘Don’t let yourself be deceived, friend!’ exclaimed the friar. ‘This is no monkey; it is not in the nature of a monkey to do thus.’
‘Come and see it yourself,’ said the lawyer. ‘You will find I have over-stated nothing of what it can do and does every day.’
Some days after this the friar came, having taken care to provide himself with his stole and a stoup of holy water. Directly he came into the lawyer’s apartment he put on his stole and sprinkled the holy water.
The monkey no sooner saw the shadow of his habit than it took to flight, and, after scrambling all round the room to get away from the sight of him, finally hid itself under the bed.
‘You see!’ said the friar to the lawyer.
But the lawyer cried, ‘Here bellacuccia; come here!’ and as the monkey was by habit very docile and obedient, when he had said ‘bellacuccia’ a great many times, it at last forced itself to come to him, but stealthily and warily, showing great fear of the monk.
When it had got quite close to the lawyer, and he was holding it, the friar once more put on his stole, sprinkled it with holy water and exorcised it.