Do n't attempt to tell lies . If you do n't hand over all the money at once you will be tried for daring to raise treasure without giving due notice to the governor about it . ' ` Pardon me , your excellency , but what sort of treasure was it supposed to have been ? My wife must have dreamt of it , and you gentlemen have listened to her nonsense . ' ` Nonsense , indeed , ' broke in his wife . ' A kettle full of gold and silver , do you call that nonsense ? ' ` You are not in your right mind , dear wife . Sir , I beg your pardon . Ask her how it all happened , and if she convinces you I 'll pay for it with my life . ' ` This is how it all happened , Mr. Secretary , ' cried the wife . ` We were driving through the forest , and we saw a pike up in the top of a tree -- ' ` What , a PIKE ? ' shouted the secretary . ` Do you think you may joke with me , pray ? ' ` Indeed , I 'm not joking , Mr. Secretary ! I 'm speaking the bare truth . ' ` Now you see , gentlemen , ' said her husband , ` how far you can trust her , when she chatters like this . ' ` Chatter , indeed ? I !! Perhaps you have forgotten , too , how we found a live hare in the river ? ' Everyone roared with laughter ; even the secretary smiled and stroked his beard , and the man said : ` Come , come , wife , everyone is laughing at you .
You XXXXX for yourself , gentlemen , how far you can believe her . '
'm Ask beg convinces cried dreamt driving said see trust