"That I can quite understand," replied the man with an insulting smile; "but I will make bold not to pay it. I prefer sticking to my principle of paying as I go along, sentence by sentence."
"Ask then!" murmured the hag greedily.
"When does the Beg return? I lay five ducats on that question."
"The answer to it costs ten. That is my lowest price."
"There's your money then! Now speak!"
The woman counted the gold pieces, put them in her bosom, and replied—
"The Beg comes home this evening."
"Where is the subterranean way by which he arrives?"
"The answer to that costs one hundred ducats."
"There you are! Don't count them, but answer me!"