'Then why are you in such a stew to be rid of it?' queried the
burglar.
'That's my affair,' said Sir Jee. 'I don't like it. Lady Dain
doesn't like it. But it's a presentation portrait, and so I can't--
you see, Mr Smith?'
'And how am I going to dispose of it when I've got it?' Smith
demanded. 'You can't melt a portrait down as if it was silver. By
what you say, governor, it's known all over the blessed world.
Seems to me I might just as well try to sell the Nelson Column.'
'Oh, nonsense!' said Sir Jee. 'Nonsense. You'll sell it in America
quite easily. It'll be a fortune to you. Keep it for a year first,
and then send it to New York.'
William Smith shook his head and drummed his fingers on the table;
and then quite suddenly he brightened and said--
'All right, governor. I'll take it on, just to oblige you.'
'When can you do it?' asked Sir Jee, hardly concealing his joy.
'Tonight?'
'No,' said Smith, mysteriously. 'I'm engaged tonight.'
'Well, tomorrow night?'
'Nor tomorrow. I'm engaged tomorrow too.'
'You seem to be very much engaged, my man,' Sir Jee observed.
'What do you expect?' Smith retorted. 'Business is business. I
could do it the night after tomorrow.'
'But that's Christmas Eve,' Sir Jee protested.
'What if it is Christmas Eve?' said Smith coldly.
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