"Ah," said he, "they were all sea-songs; but now I will give you
something better."
After a little thought, he commenced singing a very beautiful and
plaintive one, and certainly much better than he had sung the night
before; for he now was sober. The consequence was, that I was still
more delighted; and, at my request, he sang several others; but at last
his speech became rapid and thick, and he would not sing any more, using
some very coarse expressions to me when I asked him. For a time he was
silent, and I thought that he was going to sleep, and I was reflecting
upon the various effects which the liquor appeared to have upon him,
when I heard him talking and muttering, and I listened.
"Never mind how I got them," said he; "quite as honestly as other
people, Old Moshes. There they are, do you choose to buy them?" Then
there was a pause, after which he commenced: "They're as pure diamonds
as ever came out of a mine. I know that, so none of your lies, you old
Jew. Where did I come by them? That's no concern of yours. The
question is, will you give me the price, or will you not? Well, then,
I'm off. No, I won't come back, you old thief." Here he swore
terribly, and then was silent.