"I have just received, by means of a string, a pot of sweets and a book."
"Is not there something written on one of them?"
"About the book I do not know, but there is on the pot; unfortunately it is too dark to read."
"Wait," said the voice, "I will send a light."
"I thought lights were forbidden."
"Yes, but I have procured one."
"Well, then send it, for I am as impatient as you to know what is written to me." And Gaston, feeling cold, began to dress himself.
All at once he saw a light in his chimney; the bell came down again transformed into a lantern.
This transformation was effected in the most simple manner, the bell turned upside down, so as to form a vessel, into which some oil had been poured, and in the oil burned a little wick.
Gaston found this so ingenious that for a moment he forgot both the pot and the book. "Monsieur," said he to his neighbor, "may I, without indiscretion, ask you how you procured the different objects with which you fabricated this lamp?"