About a week later the housekeeper came to theelderly priest and said， "Father Flannigan， ever sinceFather O'Connell came to dinner， I've been unable to findthe beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose he tookit do you？" The priest said， "Well， I doubt it， but I'll write hima letter just tO make Sure." So he sat down and wrote：Dear Father O'Connell， I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation at dinner the othernight and hope we have the opportunity to do so again. On another matter. We had a beautiful silver ladle whichwas a gift from a parishioner that comes to visit from time totime. The ladle has come up missing and I would be veryembarrassed to invite her over and notice the missing ladle. It is very important that it be found.. Now， I'm not saying that you "did" take a gravy ladlefrom my house， and I'm not saying you "did not" take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that it has been missing ever sinceyou were here. Several days later the elderly priest received a letter from the young priest which read： Dear Father Flannigan， I also enjoyed our dinner and conversation and hope not only that we do so again， but also that I be permitted to return the favor. On the other matter. Now， I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with your housekeeper， and rm not saying that you "do not" sleep with your housekeeper. But the fact remains that if you were sleeping in your own bed， you would have found the gravy ladle by now.
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