when
he came down to 100,000 padagoes, and something under before we
parted, when we agreed upon a day to meet and to make a final end
thereof, one way or other, which I believe was the latter end of the
aforesaid month, or beginning of March, when we met in the consultation
room, when, after a great deal of talk, I brought him down to 55,000
padagoes, and advanced to 45,000, resolving to give no more and he
likewise not to abate, so delivered him up the stone, and we took a
friendly leave of one another. Mr. Benyon was then writing in my
closet, with whom I discoursed what had passed, and told him now I was
clear of it ; when, about half-an-hour after, my servant brought me
word that Jamchund and Vincaty Chittee were at the door, who, being
called in, they used a great many expressions in praise of the stone,
and told me he had rather I should buy it than anybody ; and, to give
an instance thereof, offered it for 50,000. So, believing it must be a
pennyworth if it proved good, I offered to part the 5,000 padagoes that
were between us, which he would not hearken to, and was going out of
the room again, when he turned back, and told me I should have it for
49,000. But I still adhered to what I had before offered him,
when presently he came to 48,000, and made a solemn vow he would not
part with it for a pagadoe under ; when I went again into the closet to
Mr. Benyon, and told him what had passed, saying that if it was worth
47,500 it was worth 48,000.* So I closed with him
