"Doubtless fifty thousand was originally mentioned as a
round sum," said I, "or, at least, so Bellairs
supposed. But at the same time it may be an outside
sum; and to cover the expenses we have already incurred
for the money and the schooner--I am far from blaming
you; I see how needful it was to be ready for either
event--but to cover them we shall want a rather large
advance."
"Bellairs will go to sixty thousand; it's my belief, if
he were properly handled, he would take the hundred,"
replied Pinkerton. "Look back on the way the sale ran
at the end."
"That is my own impression as regards Bellairs, I
admitted; "the point I am trying to make is that
Bellairs himself may be mistaken; that what he supposed
to be a round sum was really an outside figure."
"Well, Loudon, if that is so," said Jim, with
extraordinary gravity of face and voice, "if that is
so, let him take the FLYING SCUD at fifty thousand,
and joy go with her! I prefer the loss."
"Is that so, Jim? Are we dipped as bad as that?" I
cried.
"We've put our hand farther out than we can pull it in
again, Loudon," he replied.
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