“Well, we will fix it at eighty-five, but I won’t abate a penny.”
The knight opened his right eye.
“Come, I am less hard than I look,” said the innkeeper, rubbing Maragougnia’s hands. “I will make you an offer.”
The dying man opened his other eye.
“Must you have a head? because—-I’ll tell you what, I have an order for a head on hand, I’ll let you have the remnant cheap.”
The knight closed his eyes again, and sank back motionless.
“That doesn’t suit you? Well! say no more about it. I am going to show you how willing I am to serve you by lowering my demands.” The knight’s eyes re-opened, and his heart began to beat again.
“Say eighty pieces, but I shan’t come down any lower.”
Ali rose to go. Maragougnia gave a heavy sigh, that would have softened the heart of a famished tiger, but made no impression on the innkeeper.
“Eighty pieces of gold! Why, it is more than I should spend in eight years. You’ll reduce me to beggary.”