that
this sober citizen was induced to imitate the absurdity of Cleopatra,
by wantonly destroying a Pearl of great price. In Lawson's " History of
Banking" the incident is narrated in the following words :—" The
Spanish ambassador to the English court, having extolled the great
riches of the king his master, and of the grandees of his master,
before Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas, who was present, told him that the
queen had subjects who, at one meal, expended not only as much as the
daily revenues of his kingdom, but also of all his grandees ; and added
' this I will prove any day, and lay you a considerable sum on the
result.'
"
The Spanish ambassador soon afterwards came unawares to the house of
Sir Thomas, and dined with him ; and finding only an ordinary meal,
said 'Well, sir, you have lost your wager.' 'Not at all,' replied Sir
Thomas ; ' and this you shall presently see.' He then pulled out a box
from his pocket, and taking one of the largest and finest eastern
Pearls out of it, exhibited it to the ambassador, and then ground it,
and drank the powder of it in a glass of wine to the health of his
mistress. ' My lord ambassador,' said Sir Thomas, 'you know I have
often refused £15,000 for that Pearl: have I lost or won ? ' Ί yield
the wager as lost ' said the ambassador, ' and I do not think there are
four
