Two other merchants were seated near by,
but to them I gave no heed.
"After some desultory conversation with the owner of the shop, I
unloosed my waistband, and drew therefrom a tiny piece of silk stuff, in
whose folds were wrapped two of the smallest of the blue diamonds, a
pair, which I had carefully detached from the necklace before setting
forth on my journey. These I placed in the banian's hand, and I waited,
with all proper patience, while he carefully examined them. His face
gave no sign as at last he laid the gems on the lap of his robe. With
this I extended my right hand, and thrust it into his right hand,
covering both with the loosened end of my waistband, so that he could
tell me the price he was willing to pay by the secret pressure on my
fingers that would reveal to me the value he had set on the stones
without disclosing it to the rival traders seated at our side.
"But to my surprise his hand remained absolutely impassive, giving no
response to my movement of inquiry. Then, looking again into the
banian's eyes, I detected there a strange menacing look that greatly
perturbed me. As his fingers were still limp over mine, signifying
unmistakably that there was no willingness to buy, I hastened to
withdraw my hand, and, retying my little package, restored it to its
place of security.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133