Mr. Whimpole waved the contemplation aside. "You gave a hundred pounds for the lease." "The precise sum; your information is correct." "I had some intention, Mr. Cohen, of buying it myself." "Indeed. It is a case of the early bird, then." "If it gratifies you to put it that way. I have, therefore, no option but to purchase the lease of you." "Mr. Whimpole," said Aaron after a slight pause, "I am agreeable to sell you the lease." "I thought as much." And Mr. Whimpole disposed himself comfortably in his chair. Rachel's eyes dilated in surprise. Their settlement in Gosport had not been made in haste, and all arrangements for commencing business were made. She could not understand her husband's willingness to give up the house. "I do not expect you to take what you gave for it," said Mr. Whimpole; "I am prepared to give you a profit, and," he added jocosely, "you will not be backward in accepting it." "Not at all backward. You speak like a man of sense." "How much do you want for your bargain? How much, Mr. Cohen? Don't open your mouth too wide. "If you will permit me," said Aaron, and he proceeded to pencil down a calculation. "It is not an undesirable house, Mr. Whimpole?" "No, no; I don't say it is." "It is compact and convenient?" "Fairly so, fairly so!" "I will accept," said Aaron, having finished his calculation, "five hundred pounds." "You cannot be in earnest!" gasped Mr. Whimpole his breath fairly taken away. "I am quite in earnest. Are you aware what it is you would buy of me?" "Of course I am aware; the lease of this house." "Not that alone. You would buy my hopes for the next twenty-seven years; for I declare to you there is not to my knowledge in all England a spot in which I so desire to pass my days as in this peaceful town; and there is not in all Gosport a house in which I believe I shall be so happy as in this. You see, you propose to purchase of me something more than a parchment lease." "But the--the things you mention are of no value to me." "I do not say they are. I am speaking from my point of view, as all men are bound to do. There is no reason why we should bandy words. I am not anxious to sell the lease; wait till it is in the market." "A most unhealthy situation," observed Mr. Whimpole. "It concerns ourselves, and we are contented." "I cannot imagine a more unpleasant, not to say obnoxious, view." "The view of the churchyard? The spot has already acquired an inestimable value in my eyes. God rest the souls of those who lie in it! The contemplation of the peaceful ground will serve to remind me of the vanity of life, and will be a constant warning to me to be fair and straightforward in my dealings. The warning may be needed, for in the business I intend to carry on there are--I do not deny it--many dangerous temptations." "Tush, tush!" exclaimed Mr. Whimpole petulantly. "Straightforward dealings, indeed! The vanity of life, indeed!" Aaron Cohen smiled.