“You must have been up early then,” said Pelle.
“Yes, I left home at three last night. But now I’ve earned a day’s wages, and can take it easy the rest of the day!” answered the boy, throwing the two-krone piece into the air and catching it again.
“Take care you don’t lose it,” said Ferdinand, following the coin with covetous eyes.
The boy laughed merrily.
“Let’s see whether it’s a good one. They’re a fearful lot of thieves on the market in there.”
The boy handed him the coin. “Ah, yes, it’s one of those that you can break in half and make two of,” said Ferdinand, doing a few juggling tricks with it. “I suppose I may keep one?” His expression had become lively and he winked maliciously at Pelle as he stood playing with the coin so that it appeared to be two. “There you are; that’s yours,” he said, pressing the piece of money firmly into the boy’s hand. “Take good care of it, so that you don’t get a scolding from your mother.”
The boy opened his empty hand in wonderment. “Give me my two-krone!” he said, smiling uncertainly.
“What the devil—I’ve given it you once!” said Ferdinand, pushing the boy aside roughly and beginning to walk on.
The boy followed him and begged persistently for his money. Then he began to cry.
“Give him his money!” said Pelle crossly. “It’s not amusing now.”