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CHAPTER XVI THE JEWELER'S PRICE
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 But to give it back was not Eliakim's intention. Should he buy it at twenty dollars, he would make at least two hundred, and such bargains were not to be had every day. He decided1 to give Paul his price.
“I will give you twenty dollars,” he said; “but it is more than the ring is worth.”
“I have concluded not to take twenty dollars,” said Paul. “You may give it back.”
“You agreed to take twenty dollars,” said Eliakim, angrily.
“That was when I first came in. You said you wouldn't give it.”
“I have changed my mind.”
“So have I,” said Paul. “You had a chance to get it, but now it's too late.”
Eliakim was deeply disappointed. Generally he had his own way with his customers, who, being in urgent need of money, were obliged to accept such terms as he chose to offer. But now the tables were turned, and Paul proved more than a match for him. He resolved to attempt intimidation2.
“Boy, where did you get this ring?” he asked, in a significant tone.
“Honestly,” said Paul. “That's all you need to know.”
“I don't believe it,” said the old man, harshly. “I believe you stole it.”
“You may believe what you like, but you must give it back to me,” said Paul, coolly.
“I've a great mind to call a policeman,” said Eliakim.
“If you did,” said Paul, “I'd tell him that you were anxious to get the ring, though you believed it to be stolen. Perhaps he might have something to say to you.”
Eliakim perceived the force of Paul's argument, for in law the receiver of stolen goods is as bad as the thief, and there had been occasions when the pawnbroker3 had narrowly escaped punishment for thus indirectly4 conniving5 at theft.
“If you say you got it honestly, I'll buy it of you,” he said, changing his tune6. “What will you take?”
“I don't care about selling to-day,” answered Paul.
“I'll give you twenty-five dollars.”
“I can't sell without consulting my mother. It belongs to her.”
Reluctantly Eliakim gave back the ring, finding his wiles7 of no effect.
“Bring your mother round to-morrow,” he said. “I'll give you a better price than you will get anywhere else.”
“All right,” said Paul. “I'll tell her what you say.”
The old pawnbroker followed Paul with wistful glances, vainly wishing that he had not at first depreciated8 the ring to such an extent, that his subsequent advances had evidently excited his customer's suspicion that it was more valuable than he supposed. He felt that he had lost it through not understanding the character of the boy with whom he had to deal.
“Well, Paul, what news of the ring?” asked Mrs. Hoffman, as he re-entered the room.
“I was offered twenty-five dollars for it,” said Paul.
“Did you sell it?”
“No, mother.”
“Why not?” asked Jimmy. “Twenty-five dollars is a lot of money.”
“I know it,” said Paul; “but the ring is worth a great deal more.”
“What makes you think so, Paul?”
“Because the offer was made by a pawnbroker, who never pays quarter what an article is worth. I am sure the ring is worth a hundred dollars.”
“Yes, I am sure it is worth all that.”
“A hundred dollars!” repeated Jimmy, awestruck at the magnitude of the sum.
“What shall we do about it, Paul?” asked his mother. “A hundred dollars will do us more good than the ring.”
“I know that, mother. What I propose is, to carry it to Ball & Black's, or Tiffany's, and sell it for whatever they say it is worth. They are first-class houses, and we can depend upon fair treatment.”
“Your advice is good, Paul. I think we will follow it. When will you go?”
“I will go at once. I have nothing else to do, and I would like to find out as soon as I can how much it will bring. Old Henderson wanted me to think, at first, that it was only imitation, and offered me twenty shillings on it. He's an old cheat. When he found that I wasn't to be humbugged, he raised his offer by degrees to twenty-five dollars. That was what made me suspect its value.”
“If you get a hundred dollars, Paul,” said Jimmy, “you can buy out the stand.”
“That depends on whether mother will lend me the money,” said Paul. “You know it's hers. She may not be willing to lend without security.”
“I am so unaccustomed to being a capitalist,” said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling, “that I shan't know how to sustain the character. I don't think I shall be afraid to trust you, Paul.”
Once more, with the ring carefully wrapped in a paper and deposited in his pocketbook, Paul started uptown. Tiffany, whose fame as a jeweler is world-wide, was located on Broadway. He had not yet removed to his present magnificent store on union Square.
Paul knew the store, but had never entered it. Now, as he entered, he was struck with astonishment9 at the sight of the immense and costly10 stock, unrivaled by any similar establishment, not only in the United States, but in Europe. Our hero walked up to the counter, and stood beside a richly-dressed lady who was bargaining for a costly bracelet11. He had to wait ten minutes while the lady was making her choice from a number submitted to her for inspection12. Finally she selected one, and paid for it. The clerk, now being at leisure, turned to our hero and asked:—
“Well, young man, what can I do for you?”
“I have a ring which I should like to show you. I want to know how much it is worth.”
“Very well. Let me see it.”
When Paul produced the diamond ring, the clerk, who had long been in the business, and perceived its value at once, started in surprise.
“This is a very valuable ring,” he said.
“So I thought,” said Paul. “How much is it worth?”
“Do you mean how much should we ask for it?”
“No; how much would you give for it?”
“Probably two hundred and fifty dollars.” Paul was quite startled on finding the ring so much more valuable than he had supposed. He had thought it might possibly be worth a hundred dollars; but he had not imagined any rings were worth as much as the sum named.
“Will you buy it of me?” he asked.
The clerk regarded Paul attentively13, and, as he thought, a little suspiciously.
“Does the ring belong to you?” he asked.
“No, to my mother.”
“Where did she buy it?”
“She didn't buy it at all. She found it one day at Central Park. It belongs to her now. She advertised for an owner, and examined the papers to see if it was advertised as lost, but could hear nothing of the one to whom it belonged.”
“How long ago was this?”
“Two years ago.”
“I will show this ring to Mr. Tiffany,” said the clerk.
“Very well.”
Paul took a seat and waited.
Soon Mr. Tiffany came up.
“Are you the boy who brought in the ring?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“You say your mother found it two years ago in Central Park?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It is a valuable ring. I should be willing to buy it for two hundred and fifty dollars, if I were quite certain that you had a right to dispose of it.”
“I have told you the truth, Mr. Tiffany,” said Paul, a little nettled14 at having his word doubted.
“That may be, but there is still a possibility that the original owner may turn up.”
“Won't you buy it, then?” asked Paul, disappointed, for, if he were unable to dispose of the ring, he would have to look elsewhere for the means of buying out Barry's street stand.
“I don't say that; but I should want a guaranty of indemnity15 against loss, in case the person who lost it should present a claim.”
“In that case,” said Paul, “I would give you back the money you paid me.”
Mr. Tiffany smiled.
“But suppose the money were all spent,” he suggested. “I suppose you are intending to use the money?”
“I am going to start in business with it,” said Paul, “and I hope to add to it.”
“Every one thinks so who goes into business; but some get disappointed. You see, my young friend, that I should incur16 a risk. Remember, I don't know you. I judge from your appearance that you are honest; but appearances are sometimes deceitful.”
“Then I suppose you won't buy it?” said Paul, who saw the force of this remark.
“If you can bring here any responsible gentleman who knows you, and is willing to guarantee me against loss in the event of the owner's being found I will buy the ring for two hundred and fifty dollars.”
Paul brightened up. He thought at once of Mr. Preston, and, from the friendly interest which that gentleman appeared to take in him, he judged that he would not refuse him this service.
“I think I can do that,” he said. “Do you know Mr. Andrew Preston? He is a wealthy gentleman, who lives on Madison avenue, between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth streets.”
“Not personally. I know him by reputation.”
“Will he be satisfactory?”
“Entirely so.”
“He knows me well,” said Paul. “I think he will be willing to stand security for me. I will come back in a day or two.”
Paul took the ring, and left the store. He determined17 to call that evening on Mr. Preston, and ask the favor indicated.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 intimidation Yq2zKi     
n.恐吓,威胁
参考例句:
  • The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
  • The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。
3 pawnbroker SiAys     
n.典当商,当铺老板
参考例句:
  • He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker's.他从当铺赎回手表。
  • She could get fifty dollars for those if she went to the pawnbroker's.要是她去当铺当了这些东西,她是可以筹出50块钱的。
4 indirectly a8UxR     
adv.间接地,不直接了当地
参考例句:
  • I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
  • They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人,他们进行了间接接触。
5 conniving 659ad90919ad6a36ff5f496205aa1c65     
v.密谋 ( connive的现在分词 );搞阴谋;默许;纵容
参考例句:
  • She knew that if she said nothing she would be conniving in an injustice. 她知道她如果什么也不说就是在纵容不公正的行为。
  • The general is accused of conniving in a plot to topple the government. 将军被指控纵容一个颠覆政府的阴谋。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 tune NmnwW     
n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整
参考例句:
  • He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子,并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
  • The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
7 wiles 9e4z1U     
n.(旨在欺骗或吸引人的)诡计,花招;欺骗,欺诈( wile的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》
8 depreciated 053c238029b04d162051791be7db5dc4     
v.贬值,跌价,减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 );贬低,蔑视,轻视
参考例句:
  • Fixed assets are fully depreciated. 折旧足额。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Shares in the company have depreciated. 该公司的股票已经贬值。 来自辞典例句
9 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
10 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
11 bracelet nWdzD     
n.手镯,臂镯
参考例句:
  • The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
  • She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。
12 inspection y6TxG     
n.检查,审查,检阅
参考例句:
  • On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查,发现肉变质了。
  • The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
13 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 nettled 1329a37399dc803e7821d52c8a298307     
v.拿荨麻打,拿荨麻刺(nettle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • My remarks clearly nettled her. 我的话显然惹恼了她。
  • He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together. 他刚才有些来火,但现在又恢复了常态。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
15 indemnity O8RxF     
n.赔偿,赔款,补偿金
参考例句:
  • They paid an indemnity to the victim after the accident.他们在事故后向受害者付了赔偿金。
  • Under this treaty,they were to pay an indemnity for five million dollars.根据这项条约,他们应赔款500万美元。
16 incur 5bgzy     
vt.招致,蒙受,遭遇
参考例句:
  • Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
  • An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。
17 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。


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