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Chapter 4
Well,Ikeepitthatbitmoneyseparate—itwasagreatexpense,butapromiseisapromise—andithasgrownbynowtobeamatterofjustprecisely—justexactly”—andherehepausedandstumbled—“ofjustexactlyfortypounds!”Thislastherappedoutwithasidelongglanceoverhisshoulder;andthenextmomentadded,almostwithascream,“Scots!”
ThepoundScotsbeingthesamethingasanEnglishshilling,thedifferencemadebythissecondthoughtwasconsiderable;Icouldsee,besides,thatthewholestorywasalie,inventedwithsomeendwhichitpuzzledmetoguess;andImadenoattempttoconcealthetoneofrailleryinwhichIanswered—
“O,thinkagain,sir!Poundssterling,Ibelieve!”
“That’swhatIsaid,”returnedmyuncle:“poundssterling!Andifyou’llstepout-bytothedooraminute,justtoseewhatkindofanightitis,I’llgetitouttoyeandcallyeinagain.”
Ididhiswill,smilingtomyselfinmycontemptthatheshouldthinkIwassoeasilytobedeceived.Itwasadarknight,withafewstarslowdown;andasIstoodjustoutsidethedoor,Iheardahollowmoaningofwindfaroffamongthehills.Isaidtomyselftherewassomethingthunderyandchangefulintheweather,andlittleknewofwhatavastimportancethatshouldprovetomebeforetheeveningpassed.
WhenIwascalledinagain,myunclecountedoutintomyhandsevenandthirtygoldenguineapieces;therestwasinhishand,insmallgoldandsilver;buthisheartfailedhimthere,andhecrammedthechangeintohispocket.
