"Such wool as I bring has never been seen before in this country." "How much a hundred weight ?" asked Fink, writing, without looking at the Jew.
"What I have already said." "You are a fool," said Fink; "off with you!" "Alas!" screamed he of the caftan, "what language is that?
'Off with you!'-- there's no dealing so." "What do you want for your wool?
"41-2/3," said Tinkeles.
"Get out!" suggested Fink.
"Don't go on forever saying 'Get out!'" implored the Jew, in despair; "say what you will give." "If you ask such unreasonable prices, nothing at all," replied Fink, beginning another sheet.
"Only say what you will give." "Come, then, if you speak like a rational man," answered Fink, looking at the Jew.
"I _am_ rational," was the low reply; "what will you give ?" "Thirty-nine," said Fink.
At that Schmeie Tinkeles went distracted, shook his black greasy hair, and swore by all he held holy that he could not take it under 41, whereupon Fink signified that he should be put out by one of the servants if he made so much noise.

The Jew, therefore, went off in high dudgeon; soon, however, putting his head in again, and asking, "Well, then, what will you give ?" "Thirty-nine," said Fink, watching the excitement he thus raised much as an anatomist might the galvanic convulsions of a frog.

The words "thirty-nine" occasioned a fresh explosion in the mind of the Jew; he came forward, solemnly committed his soul to the deepest abyss, and declared himself the most unworthy wretch alive if he took less than 41.
As he could not profit by Fink's repeated exhortations to quit, a servant was called.

His appearance was so far composing, that Mr.
Tinkeles now declared he could go alone, and would go alone; whereupon he stood still, and said 40-1/2.

The agent, the provincials, and the whole counting-house watched the progress of the bargain with some curiosity; while Fink, with a certain degree of cordiality, proceeded to counsel the poor Jew to retire without further discussion, seeing that he was an utter fool, and there really was no dealing with him.