Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/117

Rh I made him a present of a "fine violin" and "best bow," which together cost me three-and-sixpence.

"How much for the case?"

The fiddle had been reclining on the lid of an ordinary baize-lined wooden case.

"Shilling," said the lady.

It did not occur to me that this was dear. The lady, however, seemed to suppose that my temporary silence conveyed a hint that it was. Because, presently, she observed—

"I won't charge you anything for the case."

"You will let me have the violin, the bow, and the case for three-and-sixpence?"

"Yes," said the lady.

I struck the bargain. As I bore away the prize it crossed my mind that there was something perhaps a little remarkable about that violin. A suspicion, say, of a receiver and a thief. One must purchase violins, bows, and cases at a very low price to be enabled to sell them at a profit for three-and-sixpence. My morality may have been lax, but I told myself that that was the lady's affair, not mine.

Ernest came to dinner that night.

"I have been buying you a present," I remarked as he came in.

He looked at me and laughed. I don't know if he imagined that my words contained a joke.

"A present? What sort of present?"

"A violin."

He glanced at the case upon the table.

"A violin! I say, uncle, I hope you haven't"

"Been making a fool of yourself," he was on the point of saying, but he wisely stopped in time.