“And how many children have you?”
“I have two.”
“Only two!”
“I am expecting another in a few weeks.”
“Bravo. Of course that alters the situation. Now suppose we settle it this way: Let us pretend that you ask me to lend you three francs, one for each child; I refuse, but propose, instead, to give you one franc on the faith of the new baby.”
“Do you mean you abandon all hope of ever seeing the one franc again?”
“I do.”
“Make it two francs and I agree.”
“No, Ivanhoe. One franc is quite enough for an unborn baby.”
“If you think so.”