“I hope,” said the old lady, sharply, “you don’t expect me to pay your expenses out there.”

“My dear aunt,” said Ferdinand, hastily, “how can you suspect such a thing?”

“Then what do you propose to do?” asked the spinster, somewhat relieved.

“I wanted to ask your advice.”

“Sell your ring.  It’s worth over six hundred dollars.”

“Very true; but I should hardly like to part with it.  I’ll tell you what I have thought of.  It cost six hundred and fifty dollars.  I will give it as security to any one who will lend me five hundred dollars, with permission to sell it if I fail to pay up the note in six months.  By the way, aunt, why can’t you accommodate me in this matter?  You will lose nothing, and I will pay handsome interest.”

“How do you know I have the money?”

“I don’t know; but I think you must have.  But, although I am your nephew, I wouldn’t think of asking you to lend me money without security.  Business is business, so I say.”

“Very true, Ferdinand.”

“I ask nothing on the score of relationship, but I will make a business proposal.”

“I don’t believe the ring would fetch over six hundred dollars.”

“It would bring just about that.  The other fifty dollars represent the profit.  Now, aunt, I’ll make you a regular business proposal.  If you’ll lend me five hundred dollars, I’ll give you my note for five hundred and fifty, bearing interest at six per cent., payable in six months, or, to make all sure, say in a year.  I place the ring in your hands, with leave to sell it at the end of that time if I fail to carry out my agreement.  But I sha’n’t if I keep my health.”

The old lady was attracted by the idea of making a bonus of fifty dollars, but she was cautious, and averse to parting with her money.

“I don’t know what to say, Ferdinand,” she replied.  “Five hundred dollars is a good deal of money.”

“So it is, aunt.  Well, I don’t know but I can offer you a little better terms.  Give me four hundred and seventy-five, and I’ll give you a note for five hundred and fifty.  You can’t make as much interest anywhere else.”

“I’d like to accommodate you,” said the old lady, hesitating, for, like most avaricious persons, she was captivated by the prospect of making extra-legal interest.

“I know you would.  Aunt Deborah, but I don’t want to ask the money as a favor.  It is a strictly business transaction.”

“I am afraid I couldn’t spare more than four hundred and fifty.”

“Very well, I won’t dispute about the extra twenty-five dollars.  Considering how much income I’m going to get, it isn’t of any great importance.”

“And you’ll give me a note for five hundred and fifty?”

“Yes, certainly.”

“I don’t know as I ought to take so much interest.”

“It’s worth that to me, for though, of course, I could raise it by selling the ring, I don’t like to do that.”