"Oh, some few small thoughts on that order," says Peter. "'Tis perfectly natural."
"Money talks," says Tom.
"Tauntin' me again, Tom?"
"No, I isn't," says Tom. "I means it. Money talks. What'll you give for my seat in the boat?"
"'Tis not for sale, Tom."
The lads begun to grumble. It seemed just as if Long Tom Lane was making game of an old man in trouble. 'Twas either that or lunacy. And there was no time for nonsense off the Gingerbread coast in a spring gale of wind.
"Hist!" Tom whispered to the lads. "I knows what I'm doin'."
"A mad thing, Tom!"
"Oh, no!" says Tom. "'Tis the cleverest thing ever I thought of. Well," says he to Peter, "how much?"
"No man sells his life."