THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
a link multiplied by the number of links and added to twice the thick-
ness of the iron gives the exact length. It will be noticed that every
link put on the chain loses a length equal to twice the thickness of
the iron.
34.—
The Noble Demoiselle.
"Some here have asked me," continued Sir Hugh, "how they
may find the cell in the dungeon of the Death's Head wherein the
noble maiden was cast. Beshrew me !
but 'tis easy withal when you do but
know how to do it. In attempting to
pass through every door once, and
never more, you must take heed that
every cell hath two doors or four,
which be even numbers, except two ./
cells, which have but three. Now,
certes, you cannot go in and out of
any place, passing through all the doors
once and no more, if the number of
doors be an odd number. But as there
be but two such odd cells, yet may we, by beginning at the one and
ending at the other, so make our journey in many ways with success.
I pray you, albeit, to mark that only one of these odd cells lieth on
the outside of the dungeon, so we must perforce start therefrom.
Marry, then, my masters, the noble demoiselle must needs have been
wasting in the other."
The drawing will make this quite clear to the reader. The two
" odd cells" are indicated by the stars, and one of the many routes
that will solve the puzzle is shown by the dotted line. It is perfectly
certain that you must start at the lower star and end at the upper
one ; therefore, the cell with the star situated over the left eye must
be the one sought.
35.—
The Archery Butt.
" It hath been said that the proof of a pudding is ever in the eating
thereof, and by the teeth of Saint George I know no better way of
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