"Buttrebeurrousse told the whole story, which you know already, so I need not repeat it now. 'This story may well be true,' said Ouanqueur. 'Dreams and legends spring to life out of the pawnshops. The one thing, then, on which we are not agreed is the price.'
"'Did we not settle upon 50, 000 floquerins?"
'I will give you 987 mushroom-lions of mithril, and not a penny more,' said Ouanqueur.
"'But the priest said it was worth 50, 000 floquerins! If you do not agree to 50, 000 floquerins, I will sell to someone else.'
"'Ah, but another might not believe your story. It is indeed almost as far-fetched as Gandault's theory about balrogue wings speaking about pointed ears on the Isle of Monte Fato. They might ask untoward questions, possibly even impose the riddle test ... We would have to find the demmed elusive abbé Glorfindoni, and what ship will bring him back across so wide a sea?' He laughed. 'A grey ship, full of ghosts and elven-speculators, sans doute.'
"'But we are too poor to lose the 50, 000 floquerins.'
"'But look at the pretty money! See the pretty money! See! Pretty pretty!'
