How did
you come by this, my man?" he demanded sharply.
"It came from my brother-in-law, sir," I explained, "six years ago as
security for a trifling loan."
"He sounds honest enough," said the Tuttle person to Cousin Egbert.
"Yes, but maybe it ain't a regular double Gazottz," said the latter.
"The market is flooded with imitations."
"No, sir, I can't be fooled on them boys," insisted the other.
"Blindfold me and I could pick a double Gazottz out every time. I'm
going to take a chance on it, anyway." Whereupon the fellow pocketed
my watch and from his wallet passed me a note of the so-called French
money which I was astounded to observe was for the equivalent of four
pounds, or one hundred francs, as the French will have it. "I'll
advance that much on it," he said, "but don't ask for another cent
until I've had it thoroughly gone over by a plumber. It may have moths
in it."
It seemed to me that the chap was quite off his head, for the watch
was worth not more than ten shillings at the most, though what a
double Gazottz might be I could not guess. However, I saw it would be
wise to appear to accept the loan, and tendered the note in payment of
the score.
When I had secured the change I sought to intimate that we should be
leaving.
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