"'Wot of it?' I ses. 'Why, it'ud spoil everything. It 'ud be blue
ruin.'
"'Are you sure?' ses 'Arry'.
"'Sartin,' I ses.
"'Well, make it five quid, and I'll go, then,' he ses, sitting down agin.
"I couldn't believe my ears at fust, but when I could I drew myself up
and told 'im wot I thought of 'im; and he sat there and laughed at me.
"'Why, you called me a masterpiece just now,' he ses. 'I shouldn't be
much of a masterpiece if I let a chance like this slip. Why, I shouldn't
be able to look myself in the face. Where's the skipper?'
"'Sitting in the "Albion",' I ses, 'arf choking.
"'Go and tell 'im it's five quid,' ses 'Arry. 'I don't mean five more,
on'y four. Some people would ha' made it five, but I like to deal square
and honest.'
"I run over for the skipper in a state of mind that don't bear thinking
of, and he came back with me, 'arf crazy. When we got to the cabin we
found the door was locked, and, arter the skipper 'ad told Artful wot
he'd do to 'im if he didn't open it, he 'ad to go on deck and talk to 'im
through the skylight.
"'If you ain't off of my ship in two twos,' he ses, 'I'll fetch a
policeman.'
"'You go and fetch four pounds,' ses 'Arry; 'that's wot I'm waiting for,
not a policeman. Didn't the watchman tell you?'
"'The bargain was for one pound,' ses the skipper, 'ardly able to speak.
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