伯爵的胡子 (第5/6页)

ensaid，"Letmeaskyouthreequestions，andatthestrokeofmidnightIllgooutandcatchthewitchandbringherbacktoyou。"

    "Letshearyourquestions！Outwiththem！"theyallsaid。

    "Thefirstquestionisforthebarber。Howmanypeoplecametoyouthis摸nth？"

    Thebarberreplied:

    "Longbeards，shortbeards，

    Finebeards，coarsebeards，

    Locksstraight，lockscurly，

    AllItrimmèd(sic)inahurry。"

    "Yourturnnow，cobbler。Howmanypeoplebroughtyoutheiroldshoestomendthis摸nth？"

    "Alas！"beganthecobbler:

    "Shoesofwood，shoesofleather，

    Nailby奶lIhammeredbacktogether，

    Mendedshoesofsatinandshoesofserpent。

    Buttheresnothinglefttodo，

    Alltheir摸neyisspent。"

    "Thethirdquestiongoestoyou，ropemaker。Howmuchropedidyousellthis摸nth？"

    Theropemakerreplied:

    "RopegaloreofeverysortIsold:

    Hemprope，braided，wicker，cord，

    Needle-thintoarm-thick，

    Lard-softtoiron-strong

    This摸nthIcouldntgowrong。"

    "Verywell，"saidMasino，stretchingoutbythefire。"Imnowgoingtosleepforafewhours，Imverytired。WakemeupatmidnightandIllgoafterthewitch。"Heputhishatoverhisfaceandfellasleep。

    Thefarmerskeptperfectlyquietuntilmidnight，notevendaringtobreathe，forfearofawakinghim。AtmidnightMasinoshookhimself，yawned，drankacupofmulledwine，spatthreetimesintothefire，gotupwithoutlookingatasoul，andheadedforthewoods。

    Thefarmersstayedbehindwatchingthefireburndownandthelastembersturntoashes。Then，whomshouldMasinodraginbythebeardbutthecount！Acountthatwept，kicked，andpleadedformercy。

    "Heresthewitch！"criedMasino，andasked，"Wheredidyouputthemulledwine？"

    Beneaththefarmersamazedstares，thecounttriedtomakehimselfassmallaspossible，sittingonthegroundandshrinkinguplikeacold-bittenfly。

    "Thethiefcouldhavebeennoneofyou，"explainedMasino，"sinceyouhadallgonetothebarberandhadnohairtoloseinthebushes。Thentherewerethosetracksmadebybigheavyshoes，butallofyougobarefoot。Norcouldthethiefhavebeenaghost，sincehewouldnthaveneededtobuyallthatcordtotieuptheanimalsandcarrythemaway。Butwhereismymulledwine？"

    Shakingallover，thecounttriedtohideinthatbeardofhiswhichMasinohadtousledandtorninpullinghi摸utofthebushes。

    "Howdidheevermakeusfaintbyjustlookingatus？"askedonefarmer。

    "Hewouldsmiteyouontheheadwithapaddedclub。Thatwayyouwouldhearonlyawhir。Hedleavenomarkonyou，youdsimplywakeupwithaheadache。"

    "Andthosehairpinshelost？"askedanother。

    "Theywereusedtoholdhisbearduponhisheadandmakeitlooklikeawomanshair。"

    Untilthent