“What are your most striking tricks?” the stout man added, in the tone of a perfect connoisseur.
“I really cannot describe them to you, it would be too difficult. There is one which can only be appreciated when seen; but I can easily give you a specimen.”
“I should much like it, if you would,” the official said, not sorry thus to console himself for the trouble I had caused him. My son, at this moment, was playing some distance off on the high road, and kicking a pebble about.
“Emile!” I cried, hailing him, “can you tell us what this gentleman has in his pocket?”
“Certainly!” the boy replied, without leaving off his game; “he has a blue-striped handkerchief.”
“Oh, oh!” the stout gentleman said, with an air of astonishment. Then he recovered, and putting his hands in both pockets to conceal their contents,
“That’s all very good!” he added, with an air of doubt; “but chance may have aided that discovery.”
After a slight pause, during which he seemed considerably bothered, he continued!
“Can he tell me, though, what is under the handkerchief?”
“The gentleman asks what is under the handkerchief?” I shouted to my son.