Mr. Know All

There was once upon a time a man called Mr. Knowall who bought himself an A B C book of the kind which has a cock on then frontispiece: this book contained whatsoever knowledge that pertained to Mr. Knowall’s questions, and so he soon became a great lord.

Then he received an invitation from Mr. Cain, who lived in such and such a village, to come to his house for dinner. “Oh, yes, but Bobby, my wife, must go too.” The lord was willing and let both have a seat at his table, so Mr. Knowall had his horses put in a carriage, and drove out to the village.

When they arrived at the spread table, it so happened that someone had stolen money from Mr. Cain, and he did not know who.

“Yes, but the money is gone,” said Mr. Cain to Mr. Knowall.

And now a servant came with a dish of delicate fare, and he nudged Mr. Cain, and said, “That was just the first thief, someone just recently stole the hat out of the hanger.”

And as Mr. Cain was actually terrified by this, he said to his servant, “The man knows all: we shall fare ill.”

So when the servant left, another peasant came in and nudged Mr. Cain, and said, “Mr. Cain, the thief has stolen a third item, for your wife’s dress is gone.”

And a fourth servant came in with a dish that was covered, and the lord told Mr. Knowall to guess what was gone to show his skill. Mr. Knowall looked at the dish, and had no idea what to say, and cried, “Ah, poor Mr. Cain.” And when the servant told him that his pearls were missing, Mr. Cain cried, “He knows it, he must know who has stolen my money!”

On this the servants looked at Mr. Cain terribly uneasy, and made a sign that they wished to step outside for a moment. When therefore they went out, and the room was silent, Mr. Knowall looked across the table, and said, “My lord, now will I search in my book where the treasure is hidden.”

Mr. Knowall sat still and opened his A B C book, turned the pages backwards and forwards, and looked for the cock. As he could not find it immediately he said, “I know you are there! So you had better show yourself.” Then a fellow in the stove thought that Mr. Knowall meant him, and full of terror, sprang out crying, “That man knows everything.” Then Mr. Cain called to his count and found where his money was, and Mr. Knowall received much money as a reward, and became a renowned man.