Night was falling when the man awoke, and throwing proudly some
grains of gold on the table to pay for the wine he had drunk, he
tucked the cock comfortably into his basket and set out for home.

His wife and all the children were waiting for him at the door,
and as soon as she caught sight of him she broke out:

'You are a nice man to go wasting your time and your money
drinking in that tavern, and leaving us to starve! Aren't you
ashamed of yourself?'

'You don't know what you are talking of,' he answered. 'Money?
Why, I have gold and diamonds now, as much as I want. Do you see
that cock? Well, you have only to say to him, "Show me what you
can do, cock," and something splendid will happen.'

Neither wife nor children were inclined to put much faith in him
after their last experience; however, they thought it was worth
trying, and did as he told them. The cock flew round the room
like a mad thing, and crowed till their heads nearly split with
the noise; but no gold or diamonds dropped on the brick floor--
not the tiniest grain of either.

Father Grumbler stared in silence for an instant, and then he
began to swear so loudly that even his family, accustomed as they
were to his language, wondered at him.

At last he grew a little quieter, but remained as puzzled as
ever.