The Chest in the Secret Chamber
At an ancient convent in Normandy, a strict rule had been enforced for over 200 years: no nun was ever permitted to enter the basement vault where the old Mother Superior’s locked wooden chest was kept.
Sister Beatrice, having been at the convent for thirty years, was entirely consumed by curiosity. One night, while the current Mother Superior was away at an emergency summit in the Vatican, Beatrice slipped downstairs with a master key and unlocked the chest. To her surprise, it was completely empty, save for two things: a small jar containing three broad beans, and a neatly stacked pile of cash totaling €50,000.
The following morning, overwhelmed by guilt, Sister Beatrice knelt before the returned Mother Superior to confess:”Mother, I have sinned deeply. I opened the forbidden chest in the vault. I saw the three beans and the €50,000. Please, tell me their meaning before you issue my penance.”
The Mother Superior sighed heavily, helped her up, and said: “I forgive your curiosity, child. Since you have already seen it, I shall tell you. During my forty years of managing this convent, every time I unfortunately… lapsed and broke my vow of celibacy with a man, I placed a single bean in that chest to remind myself of my mortal weakness.”
Sister Beatrice smiled with deep empathy and immense respect:”Oh, Mother! Forty years of isolation and only three beans? Your spiritual discipline is truly magnificent! I admire you immensely. But… what about the €50,000?”
The Mother Superior’s face turned utterly expressionless as she replied:”Ah. That is because every time the chest became completely full of beans, I had to take them to the local wholesale market to sell to the restaurants to clear out some space.”
