'don't you see he really DOES want to know THAT!'

'Ho! does 'e indeed,' sneered the merchant. Then he scratched
his ear suspiciously, for he was a sharp business man, and he
knew the ring of truth when he heard it. His hand was bandaged,
and three minutes before he would have been glad to sell the
'mangy old monkey' for ten shillings. Now-- 'Ho! 'e does, does
'e,' he said, 'then two pun ten's my price. He's not got his
fellow that monkey ain't, nor yet his match, not this side of the
equator, which he comes from. And the only one ever seen in
London. Ought to be in the Zoo. Two pun ten, down on the nail,
or hout you goes!'

The children looked at each other--twenty-three shillings and
fivepence was all they had in the world, and it would have been
merely three and fivepence, but for the sovereign which Father
had given to them 'between them' at parting. 'We've only
twenty-three shillings and fivepence,' said Cyril, rattling the
money in his pocket.

'Twenty-three farthings and somebody's own cheek,' said the
dealer, for he did not believe that Cyril had so much money.

There was a miserable pause. Then Anthea remembered, and said--

'Oh! I WISH I had two pounds ten.'

'So do I, Miss, I'm sure,' said the man with bitter politeness;
'I wish you 'ad, I'm sure!'