Claude had a sudden thought. "For you," he said, "these streets should have a special interest."
"How's that?"
"Well, many of them belong to you."
"WHAT?"
"You are the ground landlord of some of the streets and squares we have already passed."
The brown beard had fallen in dismay; now, however, a mouthful of good teeth showed themselves in a frankly incredulous grin.
"What are you givin' us?" laughed Jack. "I see, you think you've got a loan of a new chum! Well, so you have. Go ahead!"
"Not if you don't choose to believe me," replied Claude stiffly. "I meant what I said; I usually do. The property has been in our family for hundreds of years."
"And now it's mine?"
"And now it's yours."