Nigel's heart turned to lead. This sum would not buy one-half what was needful. It was clear that the Lady Ermyntrude had overvalued her treasures. Yet he could not return empty-handed, so if twenty nobles was the real worth, as this good old man assured him, then he must be thankful and take it.
“ I am concerned by what you say,” said he. “You know more of these things than I can do. However, I will take—”
“ A hundred and fifty,” whispered Aylward's voice in his ear.
“ A hundred and fifty,” said Nigel, only too relieved to have found the humblest guide upon these unwonted paths.
The goldsmith started. This youth was not the simple soldier that he had seemed. That frank face, those blue eyes, were traps for the unwary. Never had he been more taken aback in a bargain.
“ This is
