The gentleman then gave an order to one of his servants to lead the horse away. But the horse seller stopped him.
"Please wait a moment" he said. "You should not be in such a hurry. It would be better for you to think a little about the price. It is possible that you will not like this price better than the other Think it over while I wait here. But promise me, if you do not like the new price, that you will pay me the two hundred and fifty pounds that I first asked."
"Yes, I give you my promise," said the gentleman. "But I am certain that I shall be glad to give you the second price. Come with me to my room and I will pay you money."
The gentleman then sent for his chief servant and ordered him to find out how much the second price really was.
The chief servant sat down with a pen and ink and began to write numbers on his paper. After some time he raised his head and turned to his master. "I wish you much joy for your future, sir. But tell me, please, in which part of England is this land, which you are buying?
"Land! what are you talking about? Are you mad? I am not buying any land. I am buying a horse, and here is the fellow who is selling it to me."
Well, sir, if anyone is mad, it is not I. You asked me to find the price if we begin with a quarter of a penny and a double, it in turn twenty- three times. The answer as I find it, is eight thousand pounds, besides a few shillings and pence. Surely no man who was not mad would give this price for a horse.
Now the gentleman was very much ashamed, and was glad to keep his promise and pay two hundred and fifty pounds, which was the first price of the horse.
"Please wait a moment" he said. "You should not be in such a hurry. It would be better for you to think a little about the price. It is possible that you will not like this price better than the other Think it over while I wait here. But promise me, if you do not like the new price, that you will pay me the two hundred and fifty pounds that I first asked."
"Yes, I give you my promise," said the gentleman. "But I am certain that I shall be glad to give you the second price. Come with me to my room and I will pay you money."
The gentleman then sent for his chief servant and ordered him to find out how much the second price really was.
The chief servant sat down with a pen and ink and began to write numbers on his paper. After some time he raised his head and turned to his master. "I wish you much joy for your future, sir. But tell me, please, in which part of England is this land, which you are buying?
"Land! what are you talking about? Are you mad? I am not buying any land. I am buying a horse, and here is the fellow who is selling it to me."
Well, sir, if anyone is mad, it is not I. You asked me to find the price if we begin with a quarter of a penny and a double, it in turn twenty- three times. The answer as I find it, is eight thousand pounds, besides a few shillings and pence. Surely no man who was not mad would give this price for a horse.
Now the gentleman was very much ashamed, and was glad to keep his promise and pay two hundred and fifty pounds, which was the first price of the horse.