Part 97 (1/2)
”What! half a crown for a book no thicker than a quire of paper?”
”Only half a crown for a thing I could be put in prison for selling. Is not my risk to be paid as well as my leaves?”
This logic went home, and after a little higgling two s.h.i.+llings was offered and accepted, but in the very act of commerce the trader seemed to have a misgiving.
”I daren't do it unless you promise faithfully never to tell you had it of me. I have got a character to lose, and I would not have it known--not for the world, that James Walker had sold such loose--licentious--”
”Oh! what it is very spicy, is it? Come, hand it over. There's the two bob.”
”My poverty and not my will consents,” sighed the trader.
”There, you be off, or we shall have all the brats coming round us.”
The peddler complied and moved off, and so willing was he to oblige his customers that on turning the corner he shouldered his pack and ran with great agility down the street, till he gained a network of small alleys in which he wriggled and left no trace.
Meantime sunken-eyes had put his tongue to the envelope and drawn out the contents. ”I'll go into the light and see what it is all about.”
mephistopheles left alone had hardly given his pipe two sucks ere brutus returned black with rage and spouting oaths like a whale.
”Why, what is the matter?”
”Matter! Didn't he sell this to me for a flash story?”
”Why he didn't say so. But certainly he dropped a word about loose books.”
”Of course he did.”
”Well! and ain't they?”
”Ain't they!” cried the other with fury. ”Here, you young shaver, bring the candle out here. Ain't they? No they ain't----and----and----the ---- ----. Look here!”
mephisto. ”'Mend your Ways,' a tract.”
brutus. ”I'll break his head instead.”
mephisto. ”'Narrative of Mr. James the Missionary.'”
brutus. ”The cheating, undermining rip.”
mephisto. ”And here is another to the same tune.”
brutus. ”Didn't I tell you so. The hypocritical, humbugging rascal--”
mephisto. ”Stop a bit. Here is a little one: 'Memoirs of a Gentleman's Housekeeper.'”
brutus. ”Oh! is there? I did not see that.”
mephisto. ”You are so hasty. The case mayn't be so black as it looks.
The others might be thrown in to make up the parcel. Hold the candle nearer.