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his face "I fear it will be of little use to naood as sold!"

"Nevertheless, name the price!"

"Twenty ducats!"

"Twenty ducats!" exclaimed Gianettino, with an expression of the

liveliest astonishment "You jest, my friend! How can such a splendid

animal be possibly sold for twenty ducats?"

"Here! hear!" shouted the crowd "He finds the price too low!"

"He is a real gentleeons like the Spaniard!"

"In earnest, friend, tell me the price of this fish!" said Gianettino

"I have demanded twenty ducats for it," sadly responded the fisherman,

"and it is sold for that su here!" replied

Gianettino "Or had the one for a cart

for the conveyance of the giant?"

"I have not yet been paid"

"The purchaser, then, has given you earnestupon it"

"And you can pretend that you have sold this fish," cried Gianettino,

"and that, too, for the ridiculously sood man; you wish to excite in me a desire for this

rare specimen, and therefore you say it is sold But how can a fish that

yet lies exposed for sale, and for which no one had made you a suitable

offer, be already sold?"