There was once a porter in the world: he had a wife who was passionately
fond of stories, and she would only let people come and visit her who
could tell stories. Well, as you may understand, this was rather costly
to the husband. So he began to think, “How can I cure her of this
undesirable habit?”
Well, one day in the winter, late at night, an old man came in frozen to
atoms, and he asked to be allowed to stop the night. So the husband ran
out to him and said, “Can you tell tales?”
Then the peasant saw that there was no help for it, as he was simply
freezing with cold, and said, “I have an idea: will you tell stories for
a long time?”
“Yes, all night long.”
“Capital: come in!”
So he led the guest in.
Then the husband said, “Now, my wife, here is a peasant who has promised
to tell stories all night long, on the condition that you are not to
make any remarks or interruptions.”
“Yes,” said the guest; “no remarks, or else I shall not open my mouth.”