English
TheSergeant-Majortookhandsandtakingtheprofferedseatbythefire,watchedcontentedlyashishostgotoutwhiskeyandtumblersandstoodasmallcopperkettleonthefire.
Atthethirdglasshiseyesgotbrighter,andhebegantotalk,thelittlefamilycircleregardingwitheagerinterestthisvisitorfromdistantparts,ashesquaredhisbroadshouldersinthechairandspokeofwildscenesanddoughtydeeds;ofwarsandplaguesandstrangepeoples.
"Twenty-oneyearsofit,"saidMr.White,noddingathiswifeandson."Whenhewentawayhewasaslipofayouthinthewarehouse.Nowlookathim."
"Hedon'tlooktohavetakenmuchharm."saidMrs.Whitepolitely.
"I'dliketogotoIndiamyself,"saidtheoldman,justtolookaroundabit,youknow."
"Betterwhereyouare,"saidtheSergeant-Major,shakinghishead.Heputdowntheemptyglassandsighningsoftly,shookitagain.
"Ishouldliketoseethoseoldtemplesandfakirsandjugglers,"saidtheoldman."whatwasthatthatyoustartedtellingmetheotherdayaboutamonkey'spaworsomething,Morris?"
"Nothing."saidthesoldierhastily."Leastways,nothingworthhearing."
"Monkey'spaw?"saidMrs.Whitecuriously.
"Well,it'sjustabitofwhatyoumightcallmagic,perhaps."saidtheSergeant-Majoroff-handedly.
Histhreelistenersleanedforwardeagerly.Thevisitorabsent-mindedlyputhisemptyglasstohislipsandthensetitdownagain.Hishostfilleditforhimagain.
"Tolookat,"saidtheSergeant-Major,fumblinginhispocket,"it'sjustanordinarylittlepaw,driedtoamummy."
Hetooksomethingoutofhispocketandprofferedit.Mrs.Whitedrewbackwithagrimace,butherson,takingit,examineditcuriously.
"Andwhatistherespecialaboutit?"inquiredMr.Whiteashetookitfromhisson,andhavingexaminedit,placedituponthetable.
"IthadaspellputonitbyanoldFakir,"saidtheSergeant-Major,"averyholyman.Hewantedtoshowthatfateruledpeople'slives,andthatthosewhointerferedwithitdidsototheirsorrow.Heputaspellonitsothatthreeseparatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit."
Hismannersweresoimpressivethathishearerswereconsciousthattheirlightlaughterhadjarredsomewhat.
Share this article to
FINISH