Once there was an emperor who was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers(侍臣). He often asked questions which were strange and witty(机智的). It needed to take much wisdom to answer these questions.
Once he asked a very strange question. The courters looked at each other, saying nothing. All of them began to lower their heads in search of the answer. It was at this moment that Scott entered the courtyard. He asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer?"
The emperor said, "How many crows(乌鸦) are there in this city?"
Without even a moment's thought, Scott replied, "There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, my lord."
"How can you be so sure?" asked the emperor.
Scott said, "Make your men count, my lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives here. If you find fewer crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives elsewhere. "
The emperor was pleased very much by Scott's wit.
