1) Pre reading activity. Match the words with their meanings .

judge gather innkeeper weary guests peg

mattress troubled give someone away seek

a) To reveal identity
b) To try to find something, especially sth that is not a physical object.
c) Someone who decides if sb is guilty or not.
d) The one who owns or looks after an inn.
e) Very tired, especially after working hard for a long time.
f) Confused
g) Part of the bed that is comfortable for you to lie on.
h) Sb that is staying with you or is invited to a social occasion, such as a
party or a meal.
i) A stick
j) Get together

2) Questions for discussion up to “the other pegs will stay the same”

a) What happened at the inn that afternoon?

b) What did the judge tell the innkeeper to do? Why?
c) What method did the judge say he would use?
d) Why did he decide to use it?
e) What did he give the guests?
f) What was special about them?
g) How would the judge know who the thief was?

3) Continue reading up to the end. How did the judge know who the
thief was?

4) Give the story another title and explain why you think it is better
than the one it has.