"
"If you said twenty shillings, I might give it to you," said
Eliakim; "but you must think I am a fool to give twenty dollars."
"That's cheap for a diamond ring," said Paul. "It's worth a good
deal more."
The pawnbroker eyed Paul sharply. Did the boy know that it was a
diamond ring? What chance was there of deceiving him as to its
value? The old man, whose business made him a good judge,
decided that the ring was not worth less than two hundred and
fifty dollars, and if he could get it into his possession for a
trifle, it would be a paying operation.
"You're mistaken, boy," he said. "It's not a diamond."
"What is it?"
"A very good imitation."
"How much is it worth?"
"I'll give you three dollars."
"That won't do. I want to raise twenty dollars, and if I can't
get that, I'll keep the ring."
The pawnbroker saw that he had made a mistake. Paul was not as
much in need of money as the majority of his customers. He would
rather pay twenty dollars than lose the bargain, though it went
against the grain to pay so much money. But after pronouncing
the stone an imitation, how could he rise much above the offer he
had already made? He resolved to approach it gradually.
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