“Whence cometh thou, dear friend Falsehood?” asked Wickedness.
“I come,” said Falsehood, “from old father Noah. Just listen. I asked him to let me come into the ark, but he refused unless I complied with his rules.”
“What does he require?” asked Wickedness.
“The good old man stipulated that I must have a mate, because all the creatures admitted [[21]]into the ark are in pairs,” Falsehood replied.
“Now, dear friend, is this the truth?” queried Wickedness with a merry twinkle in his evil eye.
“Of course it is the truth, on my word of honour,” rejoined Falsehood. “Come now,” she added, “wilt thou be my mate? Are we not just fit to be joined together, two honest and poor creatures?”
“If I agree,” said Wickedness, “what wilt thou give me in return?”
Falsehood thought awhile and with a cunning look at her friend she exclaimed,—
“I faithfully promise to give to thee all that I earn in the ark. Have no fear, I shall do excellent business even there, because I feel very fit and energetic.”
Wickedness agreed to the terms immediately, and there and then a proper agreement was drawn up, and duly signed and sealed. Without further delay they both hastened to Noah, who readily admitted the happy pair.