第54章

Boughtandexchanged-Quiteempty-Anewfirm-Bibles-

Countenanceofalion-Clapofthunder-Atrucewiththis-I

havelostit-Clearlyaright-GoddessoftheMint。

INpursuanceofmypromisetotheoldwoman，IsetaboutprocuringheraBiblewithallconvenientspeed，placingthebookwhichshehadintrustedtomeforthepurposeofexchangeinmypocket。I

wenttoseveralshops，andaskedifBiblesweretobehad：Ifoundthattherewereplenty。When，however，IinformedthepeoplethatIcametobarter，theylookedblank，anddeclinedtreatingwithme；

sayingthattheydidnotdobusinessinthatway。AtlastIwentintoashopoverthewindowofwhichIsawwritten，’Booksboughtandexchanged’：therewasasmartishyoungfellowintheshop，withblackhairandwhiskers；’Youexchange？’saidI。’Yes，’saidhe，’sometimes，butwepreferselling；whatbookdoyouwant？’’A

Bible，’saidI。’Ah，’saidhe，’there’sagreatdemandforBiblesjustnow；allkindsofpeoplearebecomeverypiousoflate，’headded，grinningatme；’IamafraidIcan’tdobusinesswithyou，moreespeciallyasthemasterisnotathome。Whatbookhaveyoubrought？’Takingthebookoutofmypocket，Iplaceditonthecounter：theyoungfellowopenedthebook，andinspectingthetitle-page，burstintoaloudlaugh。’Whatdoyoulaughfor？’saidI，angrily，andhalfclenchingmyfist。’Laugh!’saidtheyoungfellow；’laugh!whocouldhelplaughing？’’Icould，’saidI；’I

seenothingtolaughat；IwanttoexchangethisbookforaBible。’

’Youdo？’saidtheyoungfellow；’well，Idaresaythereareplentywhowouldbewillingtoexchange，thatis，iftheydared。Iwishmasterwereathome；butthatwouldneverdo，either。Master’safamilyman，theBiblesarenotmine，andmasterbeingafamilyman，issharp，andknowsallhisstock；I’dbuyitofyou，but，totellyouthetruth，Iamquiteemptyhere，’saidhe，pointingtohispocket，’soIamafraidwecan’tdeal。’

Whereupon，lookinganxiouslyattheyoungman，’WhatamItodo？’

saidI；’IreallywantaBible。’

’Can’tyoubuyone？’saidtheyoungman；’haveyounomoney？’

’Yes，’saidI，’Ihavesome，butIammerelytheagentofanother；

Icametoexchange，nottobuy；whatamItodo？’

’Idon’tknow，’saidtheyoungman，thoughtfullylayingdownthebookonthecounter；’Idon’tknowwhatyoucando；Ithinkyouwillfindsomedifficultyinthisbarteringjob，thetradeareratherprecise。’Allatoncehelaughedlouderthanbefore；

suddenlystopping，however，heputonaverygravelook。’Takemyadvice，’saidhe；’thereisafirmestablishedinthisneighbourhoodwhichscarcelysellsanybooksbutBibles；theyareveryrich，andpridethemselvesonsellingtheirbooksatthelowestpossibleprice；applytothem，whoknow