"Stop a minute," said Silas. "You are always in such a hurry. Ask a reasonable figure. Say half, and we can commence to talk."
Jack was surprised, he had no idea of the value of pearls, and three thousand pounds seemed a large sum.
"I cannot waste my time, Silas, and you know well enough three thousand is ridiculous."
"Well, let us say another five hundred."
"No, not anything near the mark," replied Barry, knowing well enough Silas was biting.
"You are very hard."
"Not at all. You asked as a favour to be given first chance. If I take these pearls into Fremantle, and put them on the open market, they'll sell well, especially as they are scarce. It will save trouble if you take the lot, and six thousand is a fair thing."
"It's simply ruinous," said Silas. "I'll give you four, and not a pound more."
"Then it's no deal," said Barry, and Jack fancied he was unwise not to accept it.
Silas shuffled out of the cabin, and Barry whispered to Jack,—