“Well, you see, marm, there’s a good many people, who are in all the street trades, goes to both places, and by asking questions and listening to their patter, I got put up to a pinch of snuff or two. That’s how I came to know about these things, for you see I was always looking out for a better trade than birds’ nests, which is but a poor one, make the best on it.”
“Oh, I see, you’ve had more experience in those matters than I had at first imagined. Can you tell me what that is worth?”
“A thing is worth what it’ll fetch.”
“Yes, I know; but that is no answer to my question. What do you suppose is the value of that?”
Alf. Purvis went up to the sideboard and examined them with the eye of a connoisseur or practical dealer.
“They were brought here this morning,” added Miss Stanbridge, glancing at her elderly companion, who had just entered the room, and with whom she spoke in a low voice, pointing at the fish.
“They ought to fetch eighteen pence a pair, but it all depends upon the customers you meet with. Here’s one pair of large silvers that are honestly worth four or five shillings of anybody’s money. Large silvers are scarcer than large golds.”
“Are they?”
“Yes, marm, they are, indeed.”
“Well, now you must see if you can sell some of them. You’ve no objection?”