‘I find no fault with the wages,’ said I, ‘but I don’t like the employ.’

‘Not like bonneting,’ said the man; ’ah, I see, you would like to be principal; well, a time may come—­those long white fingers of yours would just serve for the business.’

‘Is it a difficult one?’ I demanded.

’Why, it is not very easy:  two things are needful—­natural talent, and constant practice; but I’ll show you a point or two connected with the game’; and, placing his table between his knees as he sat over the side of the pit, he produced three thimbles, and a small brown pellet, something resembling 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 ain’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—­