you would have been glad
to take five pounds for either of the two huge manuscripts of songs and
ballads that you brought me on a former occasion.' 'Well,' said I, 'if
you will engage to publish either of those two manuscripts, you shall
have the present one for five pounds.' 'God forbid that I should make
any such bargain!' said the bookseller; 'I would publish neither on any
account; but, with respect to this last book, I have really an
inclination to print it, both for your sake and mine; suppose we say ten
pounds.' 'No,' said I, 'ten pounds will not do; pray restore me my
manuscript.' 'Stay,' said the bookseller, 'my wife is in the next room,
I will go and consult her.' Thereupon he went into his back room, where
I heard him conversing with his wife in a low tone; in about ten minutes
he returned. 'Young gentleman,' said he, 'perhaps you will take tea with
us this evening, when we will talk further over the matter.'

That evening I went and took tea with the bookseller and his wife, both
of whom, particularly the latter, overwhelmed me with civility. It was
not long before I learned that the work had been already sent to the
press, and was intended to stand at the head of a series of entertaining
narratives, from which my friends promised themselves considerable
profit. The subject of terms was again brought forward. I stood firm to
my first demand for a long time; when, however, the bookseller's wife
complimented me on my production in the highest terms, and said that she
discovered therein the germs of genius, which she made no doubt would
some day prove ornamental to my native land, I consented to drop my
demand to twenty pounds, stipulating, however, that I should not be
troubled with the correction of the work.

Before I departed, I received the twenty pounds, and departed with a
light heart to my lodgings.

Reader, amidst the difficulties and dangers of this life, should you ever
be tempted to despair, call to mind these latter chapters of the life of
Lavengro. There are few positions, however difficult, from which dogged
resolution and perseverance may not liberate you.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

INDISPOSITION--A RESOLUTION--POOR EQUIVALENTS--THE PIECE OF
GOLD--FLASHING EYES--HOW BEAUTIFUL

I had long ago determined to leave London as soon as the means should be
in my power, and, now that they were, I determined to leave the Great
City, yet I felt some reluctance to go. I would fain have p