"Did he so?" said the justice. "And pray how did he speak about
your neighbours?"

"Oh, he had always a nasty tongue," said the man.

"And you chose him for your friend?" cried the justice. "My good
fellow, we have no use here for fools."

So the man was cast in the pit, and the friend laughed out aloud in
the dark and remained to be tried on other charges.




XI. - THE READER.


"I NEVER read such an impious book," said the reader, throwing it
on the floor.

"You need not hurt me," said the book; "you will only get less for
me second hand, and I did not write myself."

"That is true," said the reader. "My quarrel is with your author."

"Ah, well," said the book, "you need not buy his rant."

"That is true," said the reader. "But I thought him such a
cheerful writer."