One afternoon Professor N. was walking along a country road when he saw a farmer eating his supper alone in the road before his house. The professor approached the farmer and asked him:
“Why are you eating here alone?”
“Well, sir,” answered the farmer after a short pause, “the chimney smokes.”
“That is too bad,” said the professor. “You must have it repaired. Let’s have a look at it.”
And before the farmer could say a word the professor tried to enter the farmer’s house. As soon as he opened the door a broom fell on his shoulders and a woman’s voice cried:
“Go away, you old rascal or I’ll kill you…”
The professor left the house quickly. The farmer sat in the road looking very unhappy. The professor approached him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Never mind,” said he, “my chimney smokes sometimes too.”