Two thousand pounds were due to the Sydney firm; two
thousand pounds were clear profit, and fell to be
divided in varying proportions among six. It had been
agreed how the partners were to range; every pound of
capital subscribed, every pound that fell due in wages,
was to count for one "lay." Of these Tommy could claim
five hundred and ten, Carthew one hundred and seventy,
Wicks one hundred and forty, and Hemstead and Amalu ten
apiece: eight hundred and forty "lays" in all. What
was the value of a lay? This was at first debated in
the air, and chiefly by the strength of Tommy's lungs.
Then followed a series of incorrect calculations; from
which they issued, arithmetically foiled, but agreed
from weariness upon an approximate value of 2 pounds, 7
shillings 7 1/4 pence. The figures were admittedly
incorrect; the sum of the shares came not to 2000
pounds, but to 1996 pounds, 6 shillings--3 pounds, 14
shillings being thus left unclaimed. But it was the
nearest they had yet found, and the highest as well, so
that the partners were made the less critical by the
contemplation of their splendid dividends.
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