he said as he entered, 'and if you are fond of fish there is
enough here to feed the house. Only there is no need to chatter
about it all over the place. You understand? Eh?' And without
waiting for an answer he whispered to the basket: 'Little basket,
little basket, do your duty.' The innkeeper and his wife thought
that their customer had gone suddenly mad, and watched him
closely, ready to spring on him if he became violent; but both
instinctively jumped backwards, nearly into the fire, as rolls
and fishes of every kind came tumbling out of the basket,
covering the tables and chairs and the floor, and even
overflowing into the street.

'Be quick, be quick, and pick them up,' cried the man. 'And if
these are not enough, there are plenty more to be had for the
asking.'

The innkeeper and his wife did not need telling twice. Down they
went on their knees and gathered up everything they could lay
hands on. But busy though they seemed, they found time to
whisper to each other:

'If we can only get hold of that basket it will make our
fortune!'

So they began by inviting Father Grumbler to sit down to the
table, and brought out the best wine in the cellar, hoping it
might loosen his tongue. But Father Grumbler was wiser than they
gave him credit for, and though they tried in all manner of ways
to find out who had given him the basket, he put them off, and
kept his secret to himself. Unluckily, though he did not SPEAK,