“What may the price be, my young merchant?” said he.
I was trembling with anxiety, but I thought it best to end the whole matter by naming the price, which I found on the card which remained in the cabinet.
While I hesitated, the horrid creature gazed at me with his glittering eyes through his tangled eyebrows, and ran his fingers down his beard like a comb.
“The price,” I said, “is four thousand gold florins. Now please give me back the chain.”
“The price is high,” said the old man, “but I will take it.”
“Then give me the money,” said I.
“Money?” said he, with an air of great surprise. “Money? But I have no money.”
“Then how are you going to buy the chain?” said I. “Give it back to me.”
“I will buy it, nevertheless,” said he. “I will give you what is better than money.”
“What is that?” said I, suspiciously.