False Dice

Beatrice laughed and tossed her red hair.

"A pretty token, signior," she said as she toyed with the coin in her hand.

"It is from the Americas," Benedick said smugly. "I won it from a pirate rogue in Perugia."

"With false dice, I have no doubt," Beatrice said.

Benedick smiled. "Aye, sweet Beatrice, yet kiss me for it anyway."

"That I will, signior, with a good will indeed."

She awoke the next morning to find the token gone from beneath her pillow.

"If you had need of it," she told Benedick angrily, "you should merely have asked."

Benedick stared uncomprehendingly.