《增补智囊补》·《刘宰》英译

宋刘宰为泰兴令，民有亡金钗者，唯二仆妇在。讯之莫肯承，宰命各持一芦去，曰：“不盗者，明日芦自若，果盗明旦则必长二寸。”明视之则一自若，一去芦二寸矣。盖虑其长也，盗遂服。

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《增补智囊补》

Telltale Behaviour

When Liu Zai was the Magistrate of Taixing District, the loss of a golden hairpin was reported to him. Only two women working as servants were present at the scene. Upon being cross-examined neither admitted to stealing the hairpin. Liu Zai ordered them each to take a reed home.

“The reed of the innocent one will remain at the same,” said Liu, “but the reed of the guilty one will grow tow inches by tomorrow.”

When the reeds were inspected the next day, one was still the same while the other was two inches shorter. The culprit had been afraid that her reed would grow longer. She confessed to the crime.

Zengbuzhinangbu

（乔车洁玲 译）