“Rather, I should say.”
“Is there plenty about the women in it?”
The trader answered obliquely.
“What are we obliged to keep it dark for?”—the other put in, “Why of course there is.”
“Well!” said sunken-eyes affecting carelessness. “What do you want for it? Got sixpence, Bill?”
“I sold the last to a gentleman for three-and-sixpence. But as this is the last I've got—say half a crown.”
Sunken-eyes swore at the peddler.
“What! half a crown for a book no thicker than a quire of paper?”
“Only half a crown for a thing I could be put in prison for selling. Is not my risk to be paid as well as my leaves?”
This logic went home, and after a little higgling two shillings was offered and accepted, but in the very act of commerce the trader seemed to have a misgiving.