them," said he, "it was pressed by my little finger against my
palm;" and then he showed me how he did the trick, and asked me if the
game was not a funny one; and, on my answering in the affirmative, he
said, "I am glad you like it, come along and let us win some money."

Thereupon, getting up, he placed the table before him, and was moving
away; observing, however, that I did not stir, he asked me what I was
staying for. "Merely for my own pleasure," said I, "I like sitting here
very well." "Then you won't close?" said the man. "By no means," I
replied, "your proposal does not suit me." "You may be principal in
time," said the man. "That makes no difference," said I; and, sitting
with my legs over the pit, I forthwith began to decline an Armenian noun.
"That a'n't cant," said the man, "no, nor gypsy, either. Well, if you
won't close, another will, I can't lose any more time," and forthwith he
departed.

And after I had declined four Armenian nouns, of different declensions, I
rose from the side of the pit, and wandered about amongst the various
groups of people scattered over the green. Presently I came to where the
man of the thimbles was standing, with the table before him, and many
people about him. "Them who finds, wins, and them who can't find,
loses," he cried. Various individuals tried to find the pellet, but all
were unsuccessful, till at last considerable dissatisfaction was
expressed, and the terms rogue and cheat were lavished upon him. "Never
cheated anybody in all my life," he cried; and, observing me at hand,
"didn't I play fair, my lord?" he inquired. But I made no answer.
Presently some more played, and he permitted one or two to win, and the
eagerness to play with him became greater. After I had looked on for
some time, I was moving away: just then I perceived a short, thick
personage, with a staff in his hand, advancing in a great hurry;
whereupon, with a sudden impulse, I exclaimed--

"Shoon thimble engro;
Avella gorgio."

The man who was in the midst of his pea-and-thimble process, no sooner
heard the last word of the distich, than he turned an alarmed look in the
direction of where I stood; then, glancing around, and perceiving the
constable, he slipped forthwith his pellet and thimbles into his pocket,
and, lifting up his table, he cried to the people about him, "Make way!"
and with a motion with his head to me, as if to follow him, he darted off
with a swiftness which