Drever might have some wish to deal with so generous a
purchaser. Isaac could at least tell him what the treasure was
worth, I reflected.
"Will ye buy any more o' these things?" I asked, when he came to my
side.
"Well, I want nossing more, mine young friend," he replied. "I haf
make a very bad bargain already. But what have you? Any more of
dose pretty tings?" and he indicated the gem that he had bought
from Kinlay.
I thought at once of my magic stone that was suspended at my neck
under my guernsey. I produced it, though of course I did not mean
to let him have it at any price.
"Is this worth anything?" I asked.
But I had no sooner brought it forth than I felt a tugging at my
sleeve. I turned round and saw old Davie Flett frowning at me
meaningly.
"Don't have anything to do wi' the auld thief!" he whispered,
dragging me aside. "Come away, lad, an' let me tell ye something."
But the Jew was already examining my little black stone, and asking
me to take the cord that held it off my neck. He scratched its
smooth surface with his long finger nails, and then took out an old
knife from his pocket and was proceeding to insert the blade under
the gold ring that encircled the stone. I snatched my precious
talisman from him, and replaced it under the collar of my knitted
shirt.
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