"Five--what?"
"I know a public-house which is to be bought cheap, if bought at once. Never mind how I know, but I do. We could get it for five thousand pounds and have plenty over to go on with. You and I might work the business up and in two years sell it for twice as much as we gave for it. Joe, what do you think?"
"I think--it's no use my telling you what I think, because you wouldn't like it. You might as well talk about buying the moon."
"I'm not so sure of that. I believe I could earn the money if I liked."
"You earn five thousand pounds! Well! I don't want to say anything--not a word; but might I just ask how you propose to set about it?"
"By bringing an action for breach of promise of marriage."
"What!"
"I shouldn't be surprised if I got at least five thousand pounds by way of damages."
Joe Lamb, who had risen from his seat, was staring at her with, on his countenance, an expression of increasing stupefaction.
"From whom?--from me?"