His heavy wooden shoes clattered as he ran along the road, and he made such haste that the stars were only just beginning to come out when he reached the cave of the Holy Man.
‘Who is that knocking?’ asked a voice from within.
‘It is me! It is me! Holy Man! you know! Father——’
‘But, my good fellow, you really should give some one else a chance. This is the third time you have been—and at such an hour, too!’
‘Oh, yes, Holy Man, I know it is very late, but you will forgive me! It is your cock—there is something the matter. It is like the basket. Look!’
‘That my cock? That my basket? Somebody has played you a trick, my good man!’
‘A trick?’ repeated Father Grumbler, who began to understand what had happened. ‘Then it must have been those two——’
‘I warned you not to show them to anybody,’ said the Holy Man. ‘You deserve——but I will give you one more chance.’ And, turning, he unhooked something from the wall.