“If you say you got it honestly, I'll buy it of you,” he said, changing his tune. “What will you take?”
“I don't care about selling to-day,” answered Paul.
“I'll give you twenty-five dollars.”
“I can't sell without consulting my mother. It belongs to her.”
Reluctantly Eliakim gave back the ring, finding his wiles of no effect.
“Bring your mother round to-morrow,” he said. “I'll give you a better price than you will get anywhere else.”
“All right,” said Paul. “I'll tell her what you say.”
The old pawnbroker followed Paul with wistful glances, vainly wishing that he had not at first depreciated the ring to such an extent, that his subsequent advances had evidently excited his customer's suspicion that it was more valuable than he supposed. He felt that he had lost it through not understanding the character of the boy with whom he had to deal.
“Well, Paul, what news of the ring?” asked Mrs. Hoffman, as he re-entered the room.
“I was offered twenty-five dollars for it,” said Paul.