“I am in a hurry. It is a question of life and death to me that I should have that money quickly, don’t you see? No—you don’t see—how can you see—how can you know anything about me, save that I want money? You see that fast enough. Well, sir, you are welcome to your knowledge,” he went on excitedly, “and I am not clever enough to disguise it, though I know you’ll take advantage of my extremity—a man of business, and in your line of business, is sure to do that. But give me a fair price. I—I—don’t want the money for myself, I don’t want a penny of it—shan’t take a penny of it, by God!”
This was an odd way of trying to get rid of stolen goods, but it was ingenious, and there was a refreshing novelty in the style of it. But I was not the man to be done. I flattered myself that I was as shrewd as this artful and red-faced old fox, and that I held the trump card in my hand to play at any moment.
“I have a friend only a few doors off who will know the value of this article far better than I,” I said; “he is a collector of—of clocks, and will give you a better price than I can afford. This is not in my line at all; I should never get a bid for it. Ten pounds would be too much for me to pay, or even to lend upon it.”
“It’s worth a hundred pounds, you know that well enough.”
“I should not like to say what it is actually worth. I don’t buy things like these without Bender’s opinion; he’s a sleeping partner of mine, and only just round the corner.”
“Ah, is he?”
“Heaven forgive me these dreadful lies,” I whispered softly to myself.
“Let us go to him,” he said, snatching the clock suddenly from my hands. And I had never intended to let the property get out of my possession again! This man was adroit; he might be one too many for me after all, if I betrayed the slightest doubt of him, or made anything like a scene. He was fidgeting with something in the right pocket of his snuffy, old greatcoat too—perhaps there was a pistol there—I was almost sure there was a pistol!
“Yes, let us go to him, Mr. Youson,” I said. “I’m sure he or I will make you a handsome offer; he’s just the fellow to put down his hundreds. Isaac, get me my hat—any hat or cap, anything you can find—only look alive. I am going round to Mr. Bender’s with this gentleman.”
“Where’s Ben——” began that stupid ass of a boy, but I checked him with a malevolent and meaning glance, and the youth, looking frightened, dived into the back parlour in search of my head-gear. He came out with a straw hat, with a ticket on it, but I did not notice anything in my excitement. I pined to be in the open with this miscreant, who had put the clock into his pocket. With a policeman in view, on the far horizon at the end of the street, my happiest hour would have arrived.