This was a golden opportunity for poor Foster. To sell his house with its worn furniture and the vase, in a single day was an achievement!
"I would sell the house and contents entire for eighty-five thousand dollars. I must exempt one vase, however. I've just been offered fifteen thousand dollars for it."
"Not for a single vase?"
"Yes, would you like to see it?"
"It's not much use. But I'm naturally curious."
Mr. Foster, with great dignity, showed the beautiful hawthorn vase. It gleamed silently in the glass case.
"What! Fifteen thousand for that! Perhaps, if it is really worth anything like that, I can afford to speculate. I might obtain a better offer on it. I'll give you ninety-five thousand dollars for the house and its entire furnishings."
"No. The lowest is one hundred thousand."
"Done! I'll take a chance. Give me an agreement of sale, and the matter's ended!"
Robert Hooker had a white elephant on his hands. The house was really worth but the value of the mortgage, and the furniture scarcely five thousand dollars.