On the morrow, Snickchoo built a new mold, cut to the length of a red cord which Nulf had secretly (?) measured against one of the Miser's laces during the last trial. The Snickchoo made copies of the mold which Zelki distributed to huts in The Hollow and to the tree-houses of The Children in the Meadow.

Soon Snickchoo, and nearly every Gelf in The Hollow and Child in The Meadow (after a postgraduate course in licorice-making) was busy making licorice laces. The exceptions to this industry were Atchoo, who had a special assignment, and Galatea, who had discovered a delicious patch of violets under the willow tree.

The trial was again scheduled in front of The Meeting Hall of Candy-Eater's Anonymous. All citizens from The Hollow and The Meadow, and even a few curious tourists from King Hopchop's kingdom, were assembled when the Candy Miser, accompanied by his cousin, The Stingy Storekeeper on The Hill, pulled his cart laden with baskets of licorice laces.

Atchoo immediately brushed past and pilfered a bundle, which he passed to Zelki. Zelki, turning away, compared it with a bundle in a beautifully inlaid box on the step behind him. Nodding, Zelki had the Miser's bundle to Atchoo, who (again stealthily) replaced it.

The Candy Miser was in his most affable mood as he greeted every one, especially Snickchoo. Taking a licorice lace from the basket beside Snickchoo, he thrust it toward the sun.

"My dear Snickchoo, I've always remarked that you are a master licorice-maker. But this time you've outdone yourself. Such delicacy of scroll-work! The gleam of the patina! I'm -- I'm speechless with admiration.

"However, we must get on with the matching test. Here, I've already laid down eight bundles -- equivalent to the ones you ate that -- that morning of your great torment-- which I was so happy to relieve. And I'll just place this bundle of yours, from your basket, beside my line of eight licorice laces. Then you can adjoin the others, for the opening stage of the trial."

Snickchoo sat still and shook his head.

"I'm not using that bundle. For this trial, I'm not using any of the licorice laces I've brought in this basket."

The Candy Miser glowered in astonishment. His mouth puckered as if holding a very sour sourball. Then he wrinkled up a smile.

"Oh, I see. You're saving those licorice laces for yourself. And you're planning to use the bundles your friends prepared. No one equals you as a licorice-maker, Snickchoo, no one! But I admit that was not in the contract. So I'm willing for you to use their bundles to --."

Snickchoo sat still and nodded.

"Oh, you knew about their candy-making. Well, we knew you knew. For Atchoo saw you peeking in the windows while we worked. But, no, I'm not using any of the bundles which they have brought in their baskets -- although I won't have you belittling their handiwork. They've made very fine licorice laces. But that's not why I'm not using them."

The Candy Miser's mouth puckered, and his cheeks swelled, as if now holding a very large and very very sour and puckery persimmony sourball --until the breath exploded from him.

"Snickchoo! I'll not be trifled with! I came here for a matching test. But, if you're neither using your own laces, nor those of your friends, this must mean you've decided not to comply with the test. And I warn you, although you've shown yourself very careless in reading your contract, there's more fine print on that document stating the penalty -- a very severe penalty! -- in event of your default!"

("I knew it! I knew it!", thought Snickchoo. "He hired a waterspider to write it!")

But Snickchoo sat still and shook his head.

"I didn't say I wouldn't enter the matching test. And I didn't say I wouldn't use my laces. I merely said I wasn't using these bundles I've brought in this basket. And I said I wasn't using the ones my friends brought in their baskets --those bundles you saw us making.

"However, I do have some of my licorice laces (which you didn't see me make) to enter in the matching test. Zelki! if you please."

Zelki dutifully appeared before Snickchoo with the inlaid box. Snickchoo stood up and gestured.

"Do you like the box? I did the carving. And Zelki created the inlay. Hmmm. No comment. Well, connoisseurs of boxes will admire it very much. It's what's inside the box that should interest you. Behold!"

Snickchoo opened the box to display, arrayed like a collection of dueling weapons, eight gleaming ebony bundles on white satin. Deftly, Snickchoo selected a bundle and thrust it skyward like a gleaming black rapier. Whirling gracefully, and shouting "On guard!", Snickchoo thrust it forward at the Candy Miser, who leaped back, as if fearing he'd be skewered by a licorice stick.

Continued Snickchoo, "Now I just place my licorice bundle beside the first of yours.... Oh, my! It seems to be the same length as yours. How fortunate! And now another and another and another and ---. Riddle-dee-dee-dee-dum-dum -- there! Eight licorice laces in place, and -- oh, my! I do believe my line of laces matches yours."

Snickchoo paused. "You look surprised, Candy Miser. Or is it doubt you show? Very well. We'll test the comparison.

Nulf, if you please. The jar with that beautiful doorsill spider. The same one you left behind, Candy Miser, in the same jar. Now, we'll just --."

The Candy Miser began to splutter with such venom that his lips seemed smeared with orbs of bubble gum.

"Well, even if that doorsill spider refuses to build a doorsill, that doesn't necessarily --." (Splutter.) "The test is only conclusive when the doorsill spider does build a doorsill --." (Splutter.) "If you'll bother to finish the codicil on that matter, you'll find that I have the right to appeal the result of a first negative test, and --."

Atchoo stood on his head atop the eave of The Meeting Hall and chanted:

                                   "A difference is a difference
                                   If it makes a doorsill's difference.
                                   If it doesn't make a doorsill's difference,
                                   It's a Candy Miser's quibble!

Snickchoo nodded coldly.

"As you say, Friend Atchoo. Candy Miser, I'm sure you can quibble longer than taffy can pull. So I'll not set my weary feet down that endless trail. Perhaps this will convince you."

Taking more laces, one after another, from his basket -- the ones he'd refused to place on trial -- Snickchoo formed a licorice square. Then he placed one of the bundles he had used in the trial as diagonal to the square. It fitted snugly in place: a braced licorice gate! Taking away his own bundle from the diagonal position, Snickchoo placed one of the Miser's laces in the diagonal position, and it also fitted snugly.

Seeing this, the Candy Miser's shoulder slumped. His face began to drip like melted chocolate. He turned away. Then Candy Miser whirled back, face twisted in rage like a frozen craze of chocolate. He began to splutter little bubble gum orbs from his lips.

"This has gone far enough", snapped Snickchoo. "Atchoo, if you please. Sing us another song!"

Atchoo the Chimney Sweep jumped to the ground, bounding forward. The rags of his sooty garments flopped like licorice laces in the custard of sunlight as he danced and sang the Candy Miser's "Riddle Song":

                                     "Riddle-dee-dee
                                     Riddle-dee-dup
                                     No path can he take
                                     But I cross him up
                                     Riddle-dee-dee
                                     Riddle-dee-do
                                     He lays down a track
                                     And crossways I go
                                     Riddle-dee-dee
                                     Riddle-dee-dum
                                     He tries to go straight
                                     And slantwise I come
                                     No -- no -- no --."

But when Atchoo began to zig-zag like a licorice zee, the Candy Miser -- who had stood frozen during the beginning of the song -- now gave a scream, vaulted to the seat of his cart, and drove off, without waiting for his cousin, The Stingy Storekeeper on The Hill.

Unhitching his horse from his cart, Zelki mounted and set off after the Candy Miser, hoping to catch up with him, for Zelki had forgotten where the Candy Miser lived.

(Ready for Chapter 11?)