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 with the other almost covered the object, which Moni was to admire; it sparkled wonderfully in his hand, for the sun shone straight into it.

“What is it?” asked Moni, when it sparkled again, lighted up by a sunbeam.

“Guess!”

“A ring?”

“No, but something like that.”

“Who gave it to you?”

“Gave it to me? Nobody. I found it myself.”

“Then it does not belong to you, Jörgli.”

“Why not? I didn’t take it from anybody. I almost stepped on it with my foot, then it would have been broken; so I can just as well keep it.”

“Where did you find it?”

“Down by the Bath House, yesterday evening.”

“Then some one from the house below lost it. You must tell the landlord, and if you don’t, I will do it this evening.”

“No, no, Moni, don’t do that,” said Jörgli, beseechingly. “See, I will show you what it is, and I will sell it to a maid in one of the hotels, but she will surely have to give me four francs; then I will give you one or two, and nobody will know anything about it.”

“I will not take it! I will not take it!” interrupted Moni, hotly, “and the dear Lord has heard everything you have said.”