"We'll take it down to Cape Town," continued Tom, "and if we can't
dispose of it with advantage there, it will be worth our while to ship
for London with it. Let us go along to Madison's first, though; he knows
something of these things, and can perhaps give us some idea of what we
may consider a fair price for our treasure."
We turned off from the track accordingly, before reaching our hut, and
kept along the narrow path leading to Madison's farm. He was at lunch
when we entered; and in a minute we were seated at each side of him,
enjoying South African hospitality.
"Well," he said, after the servants were gone, "what's in the wind now?
I see you have something to say to me. What is it?"
Tom produced his packet, and solemnly untied the handkerchiefs which
enveloped it. "There!" he said, putting his crystal on the table; "what
would you say was a fair price for that?"
Madison took it up and examined it critically. "Well," he said, laying
it down again, "in its crude state about twelve shillings per ton."
"Twelve shillings!" cried Tom, starting to his feet.
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