Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesn't matter.

...followed by a tall, burly man, beady of eye and rubicund of visage.

...as he squared his broad shoulders in the chair and spoke of wild scenes and doughty deeds; of wars and plagues and strange peoples.

The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth.

"If you could have another three wishes," said the old man eyeing him keenly, "would you have them?"

Her husband drew the talisman from pocket, and then all three burst into laughter.

His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman...

There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night.

"I'm afraid it'll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we shall have to disown you."

Her husband interposed, "There, there, mother," he said, hastily.

"They admit to no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's service, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."

...and a minute or two afterward the old woman came silently and apathetically beside him.

A perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house...