Sheila and George were spending the first night of their honeymoon in
a
quaint medieval town in France. To add piquancy to the evening, Sheila
suggested coyly that they make love every time the old night watchman
rang his hourly bell.
George smiled in delight at this prospect, but four rings later he
pretended that he had to go out to get some cigarettes and staggered
off
to the watchman's tower.
"Listen, old man," he wheezed to that worthy, "do me a favor, will
you?
For the rest of the night, ring that bell of yours at two-hour
intervals
instead of hourly!"
"Ah," replied the ancient watchman, fingering his mustache, "I would
be
happy to oblige, monsieur, but I cannot do this."
"Why not?" George demanded. "I'll give you money, if that's what's
troubling you!"
"Not at all," the old man responded. "You see, a beautiful young lady
has already bribed me to ring the bell every half hour."
