The priest of a small hamlet was very fond of the ten chickens and a rooster, he kept in a hen house behind the parish manse. One Saturday night, the rooster was missing. Suspecting that cock fights were common in the village, he decided to say something about it at church the next morning.
At Mass, he asked the congregation, "Has anyone got a cock?"
All the men stood up.
"No, no," he said. "That wasn't what I meant. Has anybody seen a cock?"
All the women stood up.
"No, no," he said. "That wasn't what I meant, either. Has anyone seen a
cock that doesn't belong to them?"
Half the women stood up.
"No, no," he said. "Perhaps I should rephrase the question: Has anybody
here seen my cock?"
All the choir boys stood up.
