"
"I ain't so easy surprised," I ses, shaking my 'ead.
"It ain't safe with me," he ses; "and the favour I want you to do is to
take care of it for me. I know it'll go if I keep it. I've got it
locked up in this box. And if you keep the box I'll keep the key, and
when I want a bit I'll come and see you about it."
He pulled a little box out of 'is pocket and rattled it in my ear.
"There's five-and-twenty golden goblins in there," he ses. "If you take
charge of 'em they'll be all right. If you don't, I'm pretty certain I
sha'n't 'ave one of 'em in a week or two's time."
At fust I said I wouldn't 'ave anything to do with it, but he begged so
'ard that I began to alter my mind.
"You're as honest as daylight, Bill," he ses, very earnest. "I don't
know another man in the world I could trust with twenty-five quid--
especially myself. Now, put it in your pocket and look arter it for me.
One of the quids in it is for you, for your trouble."
He slipped the box in my coat-pocket, and then he said 'is mind was so
relieved that 'e felt like 'arf a pint.
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