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 You're inquisitive, aren't you? But—all right—I'll tell you. I want to sell it because I need money, because I am through with England, with my family, with—oh—everything! Because I want to go to Calcutta, to Asia, on the first ship. Now—tell me—how much money will you give me for it?”

“I shall not buy it!”

“You—you mean to say …”

“Wait! But I shall lend you money on it.”

“How much?”

And then Ali Yusuf Khan's answer, soft, low:

“As much as you want, saheb. A hundred guineas! A thousand! Ten thousand! It is for you to say!”