The String of Pearls (1850), p. 33

The lapidary hesitated. "Stop," he said; "what's the use of going to Mr. Coventry? he has not the means of purchasing what I can pay present cash for. Come in, come in. I will at all events, look at what you have for sale."
Thus encouraged, Sweeney Todd entered the little, low, dusky shop and the lapidary, having procured a light, and taken care to keep his customer outside the counter, put on his spectacles, and said—
"Now, sir, where are your pearls?"
"There," said Sweeney Todd, as he laid a string of twenty-four pearls before the lapidary.
The old man's eyes opened to an enormous width, and he pushed his spectacles right upon his forehead as he glared in the face of Sweeney Todd with undisguised astonishment. Then down came his spectacles again, and taking up the string of pearls he rapidly examined every one of them, after which, he exclaimed,—
"Real, real, by Heaven! All real!"
Then he pushed his spectacles up again to the top of his head, and took another lone stare at Sweeney Todd.
"I know they are real," said the latter. "Will you deal with me or will you not?"
"Will I deal with you? Yes; I am not quite sure they are real. Let me look again. Oh, I see, counterfeits; but so well done, that really tor the curiosity of the thing, I will give fifty pounds for them."
"I am fond of curiosities," said Sweeney Todd, "and as they are not real, I will keep them; they will do for a present to some child or another."
"What give those to a child? you must be mad—that is to say, not mad, but certainly indiscreet. Come, now, at a word, I'll give you one hundred pounds for them."
"Hark ye," said Sweeney Todd, "it neither suits my inclination nor my time to stand here chaffing with you. I know the value of the pearls, and, as a matter of ordinary and every-day business, I will sell them to you so that you may get a handsome profit."
"What do you call a handsome profit?"
"The pearls are worth twelve thousand pounds, and I will let you have them tor ten. What do you think of that for an offer?"
"What odd noise was that?"
"Oh, it was only I who laughed. Come, what do you say, at once; are we to do business or are we not?"
"Hark ye,my friend; since you do know the value of your pearls, and this is to be a downright business transaction, I think I can find a customer who will give eleven
thousand pounds for them, and if so, I have no objection to give you eight thousand pounds. "
"Give me the eight thousand pounds," said Sweeney Todd, and let me go. I hate bargaining."
"Stop a bit; there are some rather important things to consider. You must know, my friend, that a string or pearls of this value are not be bought like a few ounces
of old silver of anybody who might come with it. Such a string of pearls as these are like a house, or an estate, and when they change hands, the vendor must give
every satisfaction as to how he came by them, and prove how he can give to the purchaser a good right and title to them."
"Pshaw!" said Sweeney Todd, "who will question you, you are well known to be in the trade, and to be continually dealing in such things?"
"That's all very fine; but I don't see why I should give you the full value of an article without evidence as to how you came by it."
"In other words you mean, you don't care how I came by them, provided I sell them to you at a thief s price, but if I want their value you mean to be particular."
"My good sir, you may conclude what you like. Show me that you have a right to dispose of the pearls, and you need go no further than my shop for a customer."