Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "X" is for "Expert"
(Another
little scenelet that I thought might remind you of a famous play. Which play?)
The Prince:
“They tell me you are the expert on these matters.”
Mr. Holzbein:
“Thank you, sire. I have been –
er – I believe I… Forgive me if I’m a little
nervous; I haven’t worked with royalty before.”
“Let’s put questions of rank aside for the moment.”
“Fine. How
may I be of help?”
“You’ve seen the three receptacles in question?”
“Recep…?”
“Well, I don’t know what to call them. They look like jewelry boxes, though larger.”
“Ah, yes.
They call them caskets, sire.”
“Caskets? Odd
use of the term. It makes you think if
you open one you’ll find a small dead animal inside.”
“Ha. I fervently hope not. I have examined them
carefully, thoughtfully. You wish to know if they are
authentic antiques?”
“No, no.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I don’t care if they’re antiques or they were made last Thursday. I want to know what’s in them.”
“I see.”
“It seems I am being subjected to a kind of
lottery. Inside one of these three, er,
caskets something is hidden that is very important to me, so I have to select
the right one. What’s inside the other
two is of no interest.”
“And they cannot be opened?”
“That’s it. I
thought you might be able to suggest a way of divination – of guessing, in
other words – which one I should choose.”
“That is indeed quite a problem.”
“One of them is brilliant, bright and shining and
gold in color. At first glance, it would
seem to be the obvious choice, but…”
“Yes, but the obvious choice isn’t always the
answer. By the way, I noticed that one
of them was old and kind of dilapidated – dull, worn out.”
“Yes! Perhaps
they’re using some sort of elementary-school psychology to get me to choose
that one? Or maybe to keep me from choosing that one?”
“Sire, it’s obvious that this is very important to
you. I feel I must confess that I have no expertise in such
lotteries so I should bow out. I would
hate to have given incorrect advice.”
“But how am I going to know what to do?”
“Well, there’s this: Berowne publishes the answer
each Saturday.”
16 comments:
"Who chooses me must give and hazard all he hath..." I will hazard a guess and say: Merchant of Venice.
Altonian starts us off with the right answer.
Merchant of Venice? Merry Christmas!
Another correcct answer, this time from Kathe W.
quite interesting
I don't know the name of the play :)
Interesting story.
Your post reminded me of "Matrushka Dolls" of Russia :)
Best possible wishes for a happy holiday to all my fine-feathered internet friends.
I think it's The Merchant of Venice?
Merry Christmas,
Best Wishes,
Di.
Trubes has just joined us with another right answer.
Is it the Nativity...one day I will get a right answer..Merry Christmas to you Berowne and here's to another year of scenelets!
What a fine, encouraging comment, Jae Rose; always a pleasure hearing from you.
Lately right answers didn't come my way. Berowne! Thanks for the fun just the same. Wishing you Merry Christmas and happy hols!
Hank
The Merchant of Venice? Or, in the case of Don Rickles, the Merchant of Venom! Merry Christmas, amy
Amy, of Sharp Little Pencil fame, has coughed up the correct answer.
An Uber Shell Game ! Merry xmas , Berowne, thanks for all your writing over the year
And my thanx to you for such fine comments.
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