“Only dusting you down, Sam,” said the boy humbly.
“You got the money all right, I s’pose, Sammy?” said Steve Martin.
Mr. Dodds nodded and slapped his breastpocket.
“Right as ninepence,” he replied genially. “I’ve been with my lawyer all the arternoon, pretty near. ’E’s a nice feller.”
“’Ow much is it, Sam?” inquired Pilchard eagerly.
“One ’undred and seventy-three pun seventeen shillings an’ ten pence,” said the heir, noticing with much pleasure the effect of his announcement.
“Say it agin, Sam,” said Pilchard in awed tones.
Mr. Dodds, with a happy laugh, obliged him. “If you’ll all come down the foc’sle,” he continued, “I’ve got a bundle o’ cigars an’ a drop o’ something short in my pocket.”
“Let’s ’ave a look at the money, Sam,” said Pilchard when the cigars were alight.
“Ah, let’s ’ave a look at it,” said Steve.