A certain lord kept a fool or jester in his house, as great men did in olden times.
One day his lord gave a staff to his fool and charged him to keep it until he met with a greater fool than himself. If ever he met with such an one, he was to deliver the staff over to him.
Not many years later the lord fell sick. His fool came to see him and was told of his master's illness.
Standing by his lord's bedside the jester asked:
"And where will you go?"
"On a long journey."
"And when will you come again—within a month?"
"No."
"Within a year?"
"No."
"What then— never?"
"Never."
"And what provision have you made for where you are going?"
"None at all."
"Are you going away forever," said the fool, "and have made no provision before your departure? Here, take my staff, for I am not guilty of any such folly as that."