A MAN wanted a smoke. He went to a neighbour’s house to light his charcoal. It was the dead of night and the household was asleep. After he had knocked a great deal, someone came down to open the door. At sight of the man he asked, “Hello! What’s the matter?” The man replied, “Can’t you guess? You know how fond I am of smoking. I have come here to light my charcoal.” The neighbour said, “Ha! Ha! You are a fine man indeed! You took the trouble to come and do all this knocking at the door! Why, you have a lighted lantern in your hand!”
What a man seeks is very near him. Still he wanders about from place to place. (199)