“Whatever you please to give.”
The young man laughed and held out a five lepta copper coin, the value of one newspaper alone.
“Suppose then I please to give only this.”
Not a muscle moved in Aleko’s face.
“You shall give it,” he answered, then taking the coin he dropped it into his pocket, and was turning away, when the young man called him back.
“Here! Stop! Did you take it seriously?” and while he was searching for more coins, he asked, “Do you boys not have to account for all the papers you sell?”
“Of course; the ‘big one’ keeps count of everything.”
“Well then, what would you have said when the ‘big one’ as you call him, found fifteen lepta too little?”
“He would have found his money right.”
“How could he?”