"You jest, my friend! How can such a splendid
animal be possibly sold for twenty ducats?"
"Here! hear!" shouted the crowd. "He finds the price too low!"
"He is a real gentleman!"
"He will not buy gudgeons like the Spaniard!"
"In earnest, friend, tell me the price of this fish!" said Gianettino.
"I have demanded twenty ducats for it," sadly responded the fisherman,
"and it is sold for that sum."
"Impossible! In that case it would not be lying here!" replied
Gianettino. "Or had the man paid you the money, and now gone for a cart
for the conveyance of the giant?"
"I have not yet been paid."
"The purchaser, then, has given you earnest money?"
"No, not even that. I have yet received nothing upon it."
"And you can pretend that you have sold this fish," cried Gianettino,
"and that, too, for the ridiculously small sum of twenty ducats! Ah,
you are a joker, my good man; you wish to excite in me a desire for this
rare specimen, and therefore you say it is sold. But how can a fish that
yet lies exposed for sale, and for which no one had made you a suitable
offer, be already sold?"
And gravely approaching the giant of the waters, Gianettino laid his
hand upon his head and solemnly said: "The fish is mine.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285