s than one, to which the voice with the
tendency to lisp replied, 'Never filched a pea in my life; would scorn
it. Always glad when folks wins; but, as those here don't appear to be
civil, not to wish to play any more, I shall take myself off with my
table; so, good-day, gentlemen.'

CHAPTER LIII

Singular table--No money--Out of employ--My bonnet--We of the
thimble--Good wages--Wisely resolved--Strangest way in the world--Fat
gentleman--Not such another--First edition--Not very easy--Won't
close--Avella gorgio--Alarmed look.

Presently a man emerged from the tent, bearing before him a rather
singular table; it appeared to be of white deal, was exceedingly small at
the top, and with very long legs. At a few yards from the entrance he
paused, and looked round, as if to decide on the direction which he
should take; presently, his eye glancing on me as I lay upon the ground,
he started, and appeared for a moment inclined to make off as quick as
possible, table and all. In a moment, however, he seemed to recover
assurance, and, coming up to the place where I was, the long legs of the
table projecting before him, he cried, 'Glad to see you here, my lord.'

'Thank you,' said I, 'it's a fine day.'

'Very fine, my lord; will your lordship play? Them that finds, wins--them
that don't finds, loses.'

'Play at what?' said I.

'Only at the thimble and pea, my lord.'

'I never heard of such a game.'

'Didn't you? Well, I'll soon teach you,' said he, placing the table
down. 'All you have to do is to put a sovereign down on my table, and to
find the pea, which I put under one of my thimbles. If you find it,--and
it is easy enough to find it,--I give you a sovereign besides your own:
for them that finds, wins.'

'And them that don't finds, loses,' said I; 'no, I don't wish to play.'

'Why not, my lord?'

'Why, in the first place, I have no money.'

'Oh, you have no money, that of course alters the case. If you have no
money, you can't play. Well, I suppose I must be seeing after my
customers,' said he, glancing over the plain.

'Good-day,' said I.

'Good-day,' said the man slowly, but without moving, and as if in
reflection. After a moment or two, looking at me inquiringly, he added,
'Out of employ?'

'Yes,' said I, 'out of employ.'

The man measured me with his eye as I lay on the ground. At length he
said, 'May I speak a word or two to you, my lord?'

'As many as you please,' said I.

'The