一一中文网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

伯爵的胡子（第4页）

saidtheoldman，"

tobesoboldastoaskYourHonorsadvice."

Thecountremainedsilent."

Wehavecomehere，"

headded，"

tobesoboldastoaskYourHonortohelpus.Ifyouassignedusanescortofsoldiers，wecouldagaintakeourcattledowntopasture."

Thecountshookhishead."

IfIletyouhavethesoldiers，"

hesaid，"

Imustalsoletyouhavethecaptain"

Thefarmerslistened，hardlydaringtohope."

Butifthecaptainisawayintheevening，"

saidthecount，"

whocanIplaylottowith?"

Thefarmersfelltotheirknees."

Helpus，noblecount，forpityssake!"

Thesoldiersaroundthecourtyardyawnedandstrokedtheirmustaches.Againthecountshookhisheadandsaid:IamthecountandIcountforthree;NowitchhaveIseen，So，nowitchhastherebeen.Atthosewordsandstillyawning，thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand，withbayonetsextended，movedslowlytowardthefarmers，whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard.Backinthetownsquareandcompletelydiscouraged，thefarmershadnoideawhattodonext.Buttheseniorofthemall，theonewhohadspokentothecount，said，"

TheresnothinglefttodobutsendforMasino!"

SotheywroteMasinoaletterandsentittoAfrica.Thenoneevening，whiletheywereallgatheredaroundthebonfireasusual，Masinoreturned.Imaginethewelcometheygavehim，theembraces，thepotsofhot，spicedwine!"

Whereonearthhaveyoubeen?Whatdidyousee?Ifyouonlyknewwhatwehavebeengoingthrough!"

Masinoletthemhavetheirsay，thenhehadhis."

InAfricaIsawcannibalswhoatenotmenbutlocusts;inthedesertIsawamadmanwhohadlethisfingernailsgrowtwelvemeterslongtodigforwater;intheseaIsawafishwithashoeandaslipperwhowantedtobekingoftheotherfish，sincenootherfishpossessedshoeorslipper;inSicilyIsawawomanwithseventysonsandonlyonekettle;inNaplesIsawpeoplewhowalkedwhilestandingstill，sincethechatterofotherpeoplekeptthemgoing;IsawsinnersandIsawsaints;Isawfatpeopleandpeoplenobiggerthanmites;many，manyfrightenedsoulsdidIsee，butneversomanyashereinPocapaglia."

Thefarmershungtheirheadsinshame，forMasinohadhitasensitivespotinsuggestingtheywerecowards.ButMasinowasnotcrosswithhisfellowtownsmen.Heaskedforadetailedaccountofthewitchsdoings，thensaid，"

Letmeaskyouthreequestions，andatthestrokeofmidnightIllgooutandcatchthewitchandbringherbacktoyou."

"

Letshearyourquestions!Outwiththem!"

theyallsaid."

Thefirstquestionisforthebarber.Howmanypeoplecametoyouthismonth?"

Thebarberreplied:"

Longbeards，shortbeards，Finebeards，coarsebeards，Locksstraight，lockscurly，AllItrimmèd（sic）inahurry."

"

Yourturnnow，cobbler.Howmanypeoplebroughtyoutheiroldshoestomendthismonth?"

"

Alas!"

beganthecobbler:"

Shoesofwood，shoesofleather，NailbynailIhammeredbacktogether，Mendedshoesofsatinandshoesofserpent.Buttheresnothinglefttodo，Alltheirmoneyisspent."

"