HOLDING A COUNT-OUT " 25 



unless he had touched them ? I thought maybe 

 his little soul could not resist the temptation to 

 take them for toys, so I would not have punished 

 him ; but I did so wish he would give them back. 



"Ah! the little Shaitan!!" said Penelope, "of 

 course he has got them. If he won't confess, I will 

 hold a ' count-out ' in my village to-morrow morn- 

 ing. Then we shall know who was the thief," he 

 added triumphantly. 



When he came next day he said, "yes," he had 

 had the "count-out," and all the servants' names 

 had been written down, and the number fell upon 

 the imp. 



This was not satisfactory. I had not yet got 

 my buttons, and the imp still denied having 

 taken them. Then up came the doorkeeper and 

 said : 



" If your honour wills it, a man there is who 

 has learnt in his own country how to find out 

 thieves ; and his will be a very true word, without 

 doubt." 



"Where is he?" I asked, thinking they had 

 brought in some juggler. 



" It is one of your honour's garden coolies." 



