ng a pea. He moved the thimble and pellet about, now
placing it to all appearance under one, and now under another. "Under
which is it now?" he said at last. "Under that," said I, pointing to
the lowermost of the thimbles, which, as they stood, formed a kind of
triangle. "No," said he, "it is not; but lift it up." And, when I
lifted up the thimble, the pellet, in truth, was not under it. "It was
under none of 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 gipsy, 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-