“The furniture? Yes, why not?” said Hewson. He did not seem to know what he was saying, or to care.
“I will put that in for a mere nominal consideration--the rugs alone are worth the money--say a thousand more.”
Hewson’s man came in with a note. “The messenger is waiting, sir,” he said.
Hewson was aware of wondering that he had not heard any ring. “Will you excuse me?” he said, toward St. John.
“By all means,” said St. John.
Hewson opened the note, and read it with an expression which can only be described as a radiant frown. He sat down at his desk, and wrote an answer to the note, and gave it to his man, who was still waiting. Then he said to St. John, “What did you say the rugs were worth?”
“A thousand.”
“I’ll take them. And what do you want for the rest of the furniture?”
Clearly he had not understood that the furniture, rugs, and all, had been offered to him for a thousand dollars. But what was a man in St. John’s place to do? As it was he was turning himself out of house and home for Hewson, and that was sacrifice enough. He hesitated, sighed deeply, and then said, “Well, I will throw all that in for a couple of thousand more.”
“All right,” said Hewson, “I will give it. Have the papers made out and I will have the money ready at once.”