Lesson 28
Five pounds too dear
Why was even five pounds 'too dear' ?
Small boats loaded with wares sped to the great liner as she was entering the harbour.
Before she had anchored, the men from the boats had climbed on board
and the decks were soon covered with colourful rugs from Persia,
silks from India, copper coffee pots, and beautiful handmade silverware.
It was difficult not to be tempted.
Many of the tourists on board had begun bargaining with the tradesmen,
but I decided not to buy anything until I had disembarked.
I had no sooner got off the ship than I was assailed by a man who wanted to sell me a diamond ring.
I had no intention of buying one,
but I could not conceal the fact that I was impressed by the size of the diamonds.
Some of them were as big as marbles.
The man went to great lengths to prove that the diamonds were real.
As we were walking past a shop, he held a diamond firmly against the window and made a deep impression in the glass.
It took me over half an hour to get rid of him.
The next man to approach me was selling expensive pens and watches.
I examined one of the pens closely. It certainly looked genuine.
At the base of the gold cap, the words 'made in the U.S.A.' had been neatly inscribed.