then he became a little more reasonable. i told him that we would give him a price for the stones he held—£ 1000 apiece. that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. ‘why, dash it all!’ said he, ‘i’ve let them go at six hundred for the three!’ i soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. off i set to him, and after much chaffering i got our stones at £ 1000 apiece. then i looked in upon your son, told him that all was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o’clock, after what i may call a really hard day’s work."