谁是真心的誰是真心的

A wealthy old man had always left the running of his household to his old steward, whom he trusted deeply. As the steward lay dying, the old man sat beside his bed and asked, “What should I do when you’re gone?” The steward said, “Send away the cook, the bookkeeper, and your household doctor.” The old man was startled. “The cook left his sick child at home to prepare my birthday dinner. The bookkeeper didn’t even go home when his father died. And the doctor says he can cure any illness I get. They’ve been so good to me. Why should I send them away?”

The steward said, “Who doesn’t love their own child or father? If they can abandon their own families for you, they can abandon you too. The doctor claims he can cure everything because he wants your complete trust. Then he’ll be free to do whatever he likes.” The old man thought this made sense. After the steward died, he sent all three away. But the food became unappetizing, the house fell into disorder, and he began to feel unwell. A year later, he had forgotten the warning and remembered only how comfortable life had been with the three of them there. Deciding the steward had been wrong, he called them back.

The following year, the old man fell ill. The doctor told everyone, “He hasn’t got long to live.” The three locked him in the back courtyard and began dividing up his money. The cook kept the keys to the kitchen and storeroom, and they stationed a man at the well. They forbade anyone to bring the old man food or drink, hoping he would die quickly so they could take all his money.