"That's what I said," replied the broker. "Did you bring me up here to tell me that?"
"You said you were going to sell the Orion, did you not?"
"No, I did not. I said I was going to smash her up. But I have thought better of that. I'm going to load her up with pitch and anchor her off in the stream and set fire to her. I am going to do that on the Fourth of July, and have a celebration all to myself. Won't that be fun?"
"I thought you would perhaps take her around to New York and sell her. If you were going to do that—"
"Oh, but I'm not going to do anything of the sort. I am not in the yacht-selling business. I wouldn't be bothered with her. But what is all this about, anyway?"
"Well, then, to come to the point, I want to buy her."
"You want to buy her! Well, that is a good one. Do you know what I paid for the Orion?"
"No, sir."
"Well, she cost me just one thousand dollars. How much are you willing to give for her?"
Mr. Leeds looked at the well-worn garments of the would-be purchaser and smiled.