But I
suppose, if the truth were known, they must have very great
opportunities.'
'Ah! I begin to see,' said Popanilla. 'It was really very kind of
him,' continued the Captain, 'to make me a present of these little pink
shells: what would I not give to turn them into a necklace, and send it
to a certain person at Fantaisie !'
'It would be a very expensive necklace,' observed his companion, almost
surprised. 'I had no idea, I confess, from your appearance, that in
your country they indulged in such expensive tastes in costume.'
'Expensive !' said Popanilla. 'We certainly have no such shells as
these in Fantaisie; but we have much more beautiful ones. I should
think, from their look, they must be rather common.'
His conductor for the first time nearly laughed. 'I forgot,' said he,
'that you could not be aware that these pink shells are the most
precious coin of the land, compared with which those bits of gold with
which you have recently parted are nothing; your whole fortune is now in
that little packet.
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