"Name your price, and I'll give you the money at once, if you like." "Are you game for five shillings ?" inquired the landlord, rubbing his stubby double chin and looking up thoughtfully at the ceiling above him.
Arthur nearly laughed in the man's face; but, thinking it prudent to control himself, offered the five shillings as seriously as he could.
The sly landlord held out his hand, then suddenly drew it back again.
"You're acting all fair and aboveboard by me," he said, "and, before I take your money, I'll do the same by you.

Look here; this is how it stands.

You can have a bed all to yourself for five shillings, but you can't have more than a half share of the room it stands in.

Do you see what I mean, young gentleman ?" "Of course I do," returned Arthur, a little irritably.

"You mean that it is a double-bedded room, and that one of the beds is occupied ?" The land lord nodded his head, and rubbed his double chin harder than ever.