“You would not advise having anything to do with such speculations, eh, Jacob?”
“Me? Bless my soul, not I indeed!” exclaimed Jacob with energy.
“Why not?”
“In the first place, because you have expressed disapproval of it, father,” replied the virtuous Jacob. “And I may flatter myself I have inherited something of your sound judgment.”
“So you have never speculated at all—eh, Jacob? Never at all, eh? Never bought a shilling’s worth of stock of any kind in your life—eh? The truth, Jacob!”
The last words were pronounced in so stern a tone that Jacob changed color, turning his eyes first to one side of his father’s point-blank gaze, and then to the other. At last, however, their glances met, and then Jacob said:
“I might not be able to swear to a shilling or so, neither—”
“Nor to a guinea: nor to ten, nor to fifty—eh, Jacob?”
“Not more than fifty; upon my soul, sir,” said Jacob, laying his hands upon his heart in earnest deprecation. “Not a penny, sir, upon my word of honor!”
“What of the fifty then—eh?”