THE THIEF AND THE INNKEEPER

A Thief hired a room at an inn，and stayed there some days on the look—out for something to steal．No opportunity，however，presented itself,till one day，when there was a festival to be ncelebrated，the Innkeeper appeared in a fine new coat and sat down before the door of the inn for an airing．The Thief no sooner set eyes upon the coat than he longed to get possession of it．There was no business doing，SO he went and took a seat by the side of the Innkeeper，and began talking to him．They conversed together for some time，and then the Thief suddenly yawned and howled like a wolf．The Innkeeper asked him in some concern what ailed him．The Thief replied，“I will tell you about myself,sir，but first I must beg you to take charge of my clothes for me，for I Intend to leave them with you．Why I have these fits of yawning I cannot tell：maybe they are sent as a punishment for my misdeeds；but，whatever the reason，the facts are that when I have yawned three times I become a ravening wolf and fly at men’s throats．”As he finished speaking he yawned a second time and howled again as before．The Innkeeper,believing every word he said，and terrified at the prospect of being confronted with a wolf, got up hastily and started to run indoors；but the Thief caught him by the coat and tried to stop him，crying，“Stay，sir，stay,and take charge of my clothes，or else I shall never see them again．”As he spoke he opened his mouth and began to yawn for the third time．The Innkeeper,mad with the fear of being eaten by a wolf,slipped out of his coat，which remained in the other’S hands，and bolted into the inn and locked the door behind him；and the Thief then quietly stole off with his spoil．

一个小偷在旅馆里租了一间房，一连住了好几天，想要偷一点东西。可是，一直没找到机会。直到有一天，人们要庆祝某个节日，老板穿着一件漂亮的新衣坐在门口透气。小偷很快就盯上了那件新衣服，想据为己有。店里也没有什幺生意，小偷便走过去坐在老板旁边，与他闲谈起来。聊了一会儿，小偷突然打了一个呵欠，并像狼似的大吼了一声。旅馆老板关切地问他这是怎么了。小偷回答说：“我会告诉你育关我的事情，但是首先，请你负责照看一下我的衣服，因为我想把这些都留给你。我自己也不知道为什么要这样打呵欠，可能是对过去所犯恶行的一种惩罚吧。不过，无论是什么原因，实际上，等我第三次打呵欠时，就会变成一只狼，扑向人的喉咙。”说完之后，他又打了第二个呵欠，接着就像第一次一样大吼了一声。旅馆老板完全信以为真，一想到即将要面对一只狼，心里就很害怕。他立刻站起身来，准备夺门而逃。小偷扯住他的外衣，想留下他，并说：“先生，请等一等，拿走我的衣服吧，不然我再也看不到它们了。”刚一说完，他又张开嘴，准备打第三个呵欠。旅馆老板快被吓疯了，便赶紧从被小偷抓住的外套里溜出来，逃进旅馆里并锁上了门，而小偷则带着他夺来的战利品悄悄地溜走了。