[IDEM libro quadragesimo secundo ad Sabinum. ] §19.5.15.prSolent, qui nouerunt seruos fugitiuos alicubi celari, indicare eos dominis ubi celentur: quae res non facit eos fures.
[THE SAME AUTHOR in the forty-second book on Sabinus.] Those who know that runaway slaves are hidden somewhere are accustomed to indicate to their masters where they are hidden; which circumstance does not make them thieves.
solent etiam mercedem huius rei accipere et sic indicare, nec uidetur illicitum esse hoc quod datur.
They are also accustomed to receive a reward for this matter and so indicate, nor does that which is given seem to be unlawful.
quare qui accepit, quia ob causam accepit nec improbam causam, non timet condictionem.
Therefore, he who has received it, because he received it for a cause, and not an improper cause, does not fear a claim for return.
quod si solutum quidem nihil est, sed pactio intercessit ob indicium, hoc est ut, si indicasset adprehensusque esset fugitiuus, certum aliquid daretur, uideamus, an possit agere.
But if indeed nothing has been paid, but an agreement has intervened for the information, that is, that if he gave the information and the runaway was apprehended, something certain should be given, let us see whether he can bring an action.
et quidem conuentio ista non est nuda, ut quis dicat ex pacto actionem non oriri, sed habet in se negotium aliquod: ergo ciuilis actio oriri potest, id est praescriptis uerbis.
And indeed, that agreement is not bare, so that one might say that an action does not arise from a pact, but it has in itself some transaction; therefore, a civil action can arise, that is, in prescribed words.
nisi si quis et in hac specie de dolo actionem competere dicat, ubi dolus aliquis arguatur.
Unless indeed someone should say that also in this case an action for fraud is available, where some fraud is proved.