it at once," insisted Horace. "Come, I'll give you three-and-six
for it."

"It's more than it's wurf," replied the candid youth.

"Perhaps," said Horace, "but I'm rather pressed for time. If you'll
change this sovereign, I'll take the bottle away with me."

"You seem uncommon anxious to get 'old on it, mister!" said the boy,
with sudden suspicion.

"Nonsense!" said Horace. "I live close by, and I thought I might as well
take it, that's all."

"Oh, if that's all, you can wait till the guv'nor's in."

"I--I mayn't be passing this way again for some time," said Horace.

"Bound to be, if you live close by," and the provoking youth returned to
his "Sniggers."

"Do you call this attending to your master's business?" said Horace.
"Listen to me, you young rascal. I'll give you five shillings for it.
You're not going to be fool enough to refuse an offer like that?"

"I ain't goin' to be fool enough to refuse it--nor yet I ain't goin' to
be fool enough to take it, 'cause I'm only 'ere to see as nobody don't
come in and sneak fings. I ain't got no authority to sell anyfink, and I
don't know the proice o' nuffink, so there you _'ave_ it."

"Take the five shillings," said Horace, "and if it's too little I'll
come round and settle with your master later."

"I thought you said you wasn't likely to be porsin' again? No, mister,
you don't kid me that way!"

Horace had a mad impulse to snatch up the precious bottle then and there
and make off with it, and might have yielded to the temptation, with
disastrous consequences, had not an elderly man entered the shop at that
moment. He was bent, and wore rather more fluff and flue upon his person
than most well-dressed people would consider necessary, but he came in
with a certain air of authority, nevertheless.

"Mr. Dilger, sir," piped the youth, "'ere's a gent took a fancy to this
'ere brass pot o' yours. Says he _must_ 'ave it. Five shillings he'd got
to, but I told him he'd 'ave to wait till you come in."

"Quite right, my lad!" said Mr. Dilger, cocking a watery but sharp old
eye at Horace. "Five shillings! Ah, sir, you can't know much about these
hold brass antiquities to make an orfer like that."

"I know as much as most people," said Horace. "But let us say six
shillings."

"Couldn't be done, sir; couldn't indeed. Why, I give a pound for it
myself at Christie's, as sure as I'm standin' 'ere in the presence o' my
Maker, and you a sinner!" he declared impressively, if