“They don't look handsome, gents,” said he, “but you may see the stuff glitter here and there; and here is some of the dust. I had to buy this; gave them fifty shillings an ounce for it. I wish I had bought a hundred-weight, for they tell me it is worth three pound ten here.”
“May we inspect these specimens?”
“Why not, sir? I'll trust it with you. I wouldn't with everybody, though.”
The partners retired with the gold, tested it with muriatic acid, weighed it, and after a short, excited interview one of them brought it back and asked with great nonchalance the price of the land.
Meadows hung his head.
“Twenty thousand pounds.”
“Twenty thousand pounds!” and the partner laughed in his face.
“I don't wonder you are surprised, sir. I wonder at myself asking so much. Why, before this, if you had offered me five thousand, I would have jumped into your arms, as the saying is; but they all say I ought to have twenty thousand, and they have talked to me till they make me greedy.”
The partner retired and consulted, and the firm ended by offering ten thousand.
“I am right down ashamed to say no,” was the answer, “but I suppose I must not take it.”