第13章 猴爪3（第1页）

第13章猴爪（3）

&ooksomethingoutofhispodprofferedit。Mrs。ithagrimace，butherson，takingit，examicuriously。

"Andwhatistherespecialaboutit?"inquiredMr。White，ashetookitfromhissonand，havi，placeditupoable。

"Ithadaspellputonitbyanoldfakir，"saidthesergeant-major，"averyholymaoshowthatfateruledpeople'slives，andthatthosewhoididsototheirsorroellonitsothatthreeseparatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit。"

Hismannerressivethathishearersweresciousthattheirlightlaughterjarredsome>

"Well，whydon'tyouhavethree，sir?"saidHerbertWhitecleverly。

Thesardedhimimiddleageiswardpresumptuousyouth。"Ihave，"hesaidquietly，andhisblotchyfaed。

"Anddidyoureallyhavethethreewishesgra;askedMrs。White。

"Idid，"saidthesergeant-major，andhisglasstappedagainsthisstroh。

"Andhasanybodyelsewished?"iheoldlady。

"Thefirstmanhadhisthreewishes，yes，"ly。"Idon'tknowwhatthefirsttwowere，butthethirdwasfordeath。That'showIgotthepaw。"

Histravethatahushfelluponthegroup。

"Ifyou'vehadyourthreewishes，it'snogoodtoyounow，then，Morris，"saidtheoldmanatlast。"Whatdoyoukeepitfor?"

Thesoldiershookhishead。"Fancy，Isuppose，"hesaidslowly。

"Ifyoucouldhaveahreewishes，"saidtheoldman，eyei;wouldyouhavethem?"

"Idon'tknow，"saidtheother。"Idon'tknow。"

&hepaw，anddangliweenhisfrohumb，suddeupoe，withaslightcry，stoopeddownaoff。

"Betterletitburn，"saidthesoldiersolemnly。

"Ifyoudon'twantit，Morris，"saidtheoldman，"giveittome。"

"Iwon't，"saidhisfrie;Ithrewitonthefire。Ifyoukeepit，don'tblamemeforitthefireagain，likeasensibleman。"

&hershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewpossessio;Howdoyoudoit?"heinquired。

"Holditupinyhthandandwishaloud，"saidthesergeant-major，"butIwarnyouoftheces。"