"I never said thirty," Eliphaz reminded him. "Twenty-seven ten was my last bid."
"Very well; that will do as a basis of negotiations," said Sugarman resignedly. "I will call upon him this evening. If I were to go over and speak to him now he would perceive you were anxious and raise his terms, and that will never do. Of course, you will not mind allowing me a pound more for finding you so economical a son-in-law?"
"Not a penny more."
"You need not fear," said Sugarman resentfully. "It is not likely I shall be able to persuade him to take so economical a father-in-law. So you will be none the worse for promising."
"Be it so," said Eliphaz, with a gesture of weariness, and he started his machine again.
"Twenty-seven pounds ten, remember," said Sugarman, above the whirr.
Eliphaz nodded his head, whirring his wheelwork louder.
"And paid before the wedding, mind?"
The machine took no notice.
"Before the wedding, mind," repeated Sugarman. "Before we go under the canopy."