Holding the painting of the master at arm's length, he grumbled critically, "A vision of Hell would have been more to my liking. Unhappily our Navigator did not paint one of his radiant visions of that ship. Now, why would he prefer Planet to Hell—particularly when he described Hell as warm and enclosed like our own ship?"
I did not answer his frivolous complaint, knowing full well it was only bartering talk.
He handled the immortal painting with crudely feigned indifference. He could not quite bring himself to let go of it. He was determined to own it, I knew, and he sensed also my resolve to offer no more for Lisa. Yet slyly he determined on an evil course.
For, incredibly, he turned to tranquil Lisa and asked: "What is your value, lovely child? Does he offer enough?"
And slowly lifting her candid eyes to him she shook her head NO!
"Shall I bargain with her then?" I asked my friend caustically. I will own I was vexed.
Shrewdly he nodded. "Whatever she accepts will be our bargain." Then, laughing at my undignified discomfiture, "It is manifest she is more aware of her value than I."
"Will you be serious? It is not kindly to banter with a woman-child in such an important matter as her future."
But greed now fully possessed him. "I do not joke. Whatever she demands shall be her price." He sipped his sweet wine, hiding his eyes from my displeasure.