Banta singh appeared at the box office of a cinema and bought two tickets. A few minutes later he returned and bought two more. When, after a short interval, he appeared a third time and offered to pay for two more, the ticket-seller opened the little door in the glass and spoke up.

'Aren't you the same gentleman who just bought two tickets and two others just a while ago?' she asked, puzzled.

'Yes', replied Banta Singh plaintively, 'but there's some fool at the gate who keeps tearing them up!'