“I have it not—I have lost it!”
“A pretty story, truly,” said the precise-looking man; “lost it!”
“You had better retire,” said the other.
“How shall I appear before the party who entrusted me with the book? She will certainly think that I have purloined it, notwithstanding all I can say; nor, indeed, can I blame her,—appearances are certainly against me.”
“They are so—you had better retire.”
I moved towards the door. “Stay, young man, one word more; there is only one way of proceeding which would induce me to believe that you are sincere.”
“What is that?” said I, stopping and looking at him anxiously.
“The purchase of a Bible.”
“Purchase!” said I, “purchase! I came not to purchase, but to barter; such was my instruction, and how can I barter if I have lost the book?”
The other made no answer, and turning away I