I handed him the bright new golden coin, and he span it up in the air, caught it dexterously, and bit it. Then he tried it three or four times on the table, as a shopman would a piece of money on a counter, and ended by making believe to thrust it into his pocket.
“It’s a good one,” he said, “and I think I shall stick to it for your board and lodging last night and this morning. What do you say?”
“I think you ought to be paid, sir,” I said eagerly, “for you were very good to me.”
He stared hard at me for a few moments, and then thrust the sovereign back in my hand.
“I’ve seen a good many boys in my time,” he said, “but I’m blessed if ever I run again one like you. Why, you’ve got plenty of pluck, or else you wouldn’t have run away; but of all the simple—well, I won’t say simple, but green—of the green chaps I ever did come across you are about the greenest.”
I flushed up far from that tint at his words, for there was the old complaint again about my greenness.
“Please, Mr Revitts, I’m very sorry I’m so green,” I said, looking at him wistfully; “perhaps it’s because I’ve always lived in the country.”
He stared harder at me.
“Come here,” he said sharply, and going to the window, he placed me between his knees, laid a great hand upon each of my shoulders grasping them firmly, and gazed straight into my eyes. “Look here, youngster,” he said angrily, “is it R or F? Are you trying to humbug me? Because, if so, it won’t do: I’m too old.”
“Humbug you, sir?” I said wonderingly. “I don’t know what you mean.”