Surveying it more closely, he said:
"It is an excellent imitation. I will give you five dollars."
Paul was not without natural shrewdness, and this sudden advance
convinced him that it was, after all, a real stone. He
determined to get twenty dollars or carry the ring home.
"Five dollars won't do me any good," he said. "Give me back the
ring."
"Five dollars is a good deal of money," said Eliakim.
"I'd rather have the ring."
"What is your lowest price?"
"Twenty dollars."
"I'll give you eight."
"Just now you said it was worth only three," said Paul, sharply.
"It is very fine gold. It is better than I thought. Here is the
money."
"You're a little too fast," said Paul, coolly. "I haven't agreed
to part with the ring for eight dollars, and I don't mean to.
Twenty dollars is my lowest price."
"I'll give you ten," said the old man, whose eagerness increased
with Paul's indifference.
"No, you won't. Give me back the ring."
"I might give eleven, but I should lose money."
"I don't want you to lose money, and I've concluded to keep the
ring," said Paul, rightly inferring from the old man's eagerness
that the ring was much more valuable than he had at first
supposed.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133