English
Mr.Whitedroppeditbackinhispocket,andplacingchairs,motionedhisfriendtothetable.
Inthebusinessofsupperthetalismanwaspartlyforgotten,andafterwardthethreesatlisteninginanenthralledfashiontoasecondinstallmentofthesoldier'sadventuresinIndia.
"Ifthetaleaboutthemonkey'spawisnotmoretruthfulthanthosehehasbeentellingus,"saidHerbert,asthedoorclosedbehindtheirguest,justintimetocatchthelasttrain,"weshan'tmakemuchoutofit."
"Didyougiveanythingforit,father?"inquiredMrs.White,regardingherhusbandclosely.
"Atrifle,"saidhe,colouringslightly,"Hedidn'twantit,butImadehimtakeit.Andhepressedmeagaintothrowitaway."
"Likely,"saidHerbert,withpretendedhorror."Why,we'regoingtoberich,andfamous,andhappy.Wishtobeanemperor,father,tobeginwith;thenyoucan'tbehenpecked."
Hedartedaroundthetable,pursuedbythemalignedMrsWhitearmedwithanantimacassar.
Mr.Whitetookthepawfromhispocketandeyeditdubiously."Idon'tknowwhattowishfor,andthat'safact,"hesaidslowly.ItseemstomeI'vegotallIwant."
"Ifyouonlyclearedthehouse,you'dbequitehappy,wouldn'tyou!"saidHerbert,withhishandonhisshoulder."Well,wishfortwohundredpounds,then;that'lljustdoit."
Hisfather,smilingshamefacedlyathisowncredulity,heldupthetalisman,ashisson,withasolemnface,somewhatmarredbyawinkathismother,satdownandstruckafewimpressivechords.
"Iwishfortwohundredpounds,"saidtheoldmandistinctly.
Afinecrashfromthepianogreetedhiswords,interruptedbyashudderingcryfromtheoldman.Hiswifeandsonrantowardhim.
"Itmoved,"hecried,withaglanceofdisgustattheobjectasitlayonthefloor."AsIwished,ittwistedinmyhandlikeasnake."
"Well,Idon'tseethemoney,"saidhisson,ashepickeditupandplaceditonthetable,"andIbetInevershall."
"Itmusthavebeenyourfancy,father,"saidhiswife,regardinghimanxiously.
Heshookhishead."Nevermind,though;there'snoharmdone,butitgavemeashockallthesame."
Theysatdownbythefireagainwhilethetwomenfinishedtheirpipes.
Outside,thewindwashigherthanever,antheoldmanstartednervouslyatthesoundofadoorbangingupstairs.
Asilenceunusualanddepressingsettledonallthree,whichlasteduntiltheoldcouplerosetoretirefortherestofthenight.
"Iexpectyou'llfindthecashtiedupinabigbaginthemiddleofyourbed,"saidHerbert,ashebadethemgoodnight,"andsomethinghorriblesquattingontopofyourwardrobewatchingyouasyoupocketyourill-gottengains."
Hesataloneinthedarkness,gazingatthedyingfire,andseeingfacesinit.
Thelastwassohorribleandsosimianthathegazedatitinamazement.
Itgotsovividthat,withalittleuneasylaugh,hefeltonthetableforaglasscontainingalittlewatertothrowoverit.
Hishandgraspedthemonkey'spaw,andwithalittleshiverhewipedhishandonhiscoatandwentuptobed.
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