It had originally been pawned by a poor musician, for a dollar and a quarter, but the unfortunate owner had never been able to redeem it.

Among his customers, the pawnbroker had not found one sufficiently musical to take it off his hands.

Here was a slight chance, and he determined to effect a sale if he could.
"It is a splendid instrument," he said, enthusiastically, brushing off the dust with a dirty cotton handkerchief.

"I have had many chances to sell it." "Why didn't you sell it, then ?" demanded Paul, who did not believe a word of this.
"Because it was only pawned.

I kept it for the owner." "Oh, well; if you can't sell it, it doesn't matter." "It is for sale now," said Eliakim, quickly.