Instead of going home for the night, however, he walked around the fair grounds, waiting for Lord Dobrogi to appear.  Suddenly, he overheard a man boasting that his charger was the best racehorse in the whole province.

Matthew Goose walked up to the man and said, “Is that the horse you were talking about?  That’s exactly the kind of horse I need!  I’ll buy it from you, if you do what I say.”

“All right,” said the man.  “I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Well, then,” said Matthew Goose, “mount your horse, ride up to the road, and when you see Lord Dobrogi in his carriage, start shouting at the top of your voice, ‘I am Matthew Goose!’ But then ride the hell out of there, for if they catch you that may be the end of you!”

The man agreed to these terms.  At two in the afternoon, they walked to the outskirts of the town.  All of a sudden Dobrogi’s carriage appeared. 

The man mounted his horse, and riding up to the carriage shouted, “I am Matthew Goose!”

“Coachman! Guards!” shouted Dobrogi.  “After him! Unhitch the horses at once and follow him!  The one that catches up with that rascal will be rewarded with two gold pieces!  Go after him, all of you!”

The coachman quickly mounted the fastest of the horses and galloped off.  So did the guards in attendance.  Dobrogi stayed in the carriage alone and anxiously watched the chase.

At this moment, Matthew Goose stepped forward and said quietly, “That wasn’t Matthew Goose at all!  I am Matthew Goose!”

Dobrogi almost fainted in his seat, but Matthew didn’t spare him.  He gave Lord Dobrogi the third portion of the promised lashing.  Then he removed once more the price of his goslings from the landowner’s pockets and told him that this was his final visit.