And if I offered you two pounds, or two guineas?
Might I then rely on your not taking another lodger ?" "Yes," she said quietly.

"I'd be very glad only to have you to wait on, sir." "I suppose you have a key to the door of this room, Mrs.Bunting?
I don't like to be disturbed while I'm working." He waited a moment, and then said again, rather urgently, "I suppose you have a key to this door, Mrs.Bunting ?" "Oh, yes, sir, there's a key--a very nice little key.

The people who lived here before had a new kind of lock put on to the door." She went over, and throwing the door open, showed him that a round disk had been fitted above the old keyhole.
He nodded his head, and then, after standing silent a little, as if absorbed in thought, "Forty-two shillings a week?
Yes, that will suit me perfectly.

And I'll begin now by paying my first month's rent in advance.

Now, four times forty-two shillings is"-- he jerked his head back and stared at his new landlady; for the first time he smiled, a queer, wry smile--"why, just eight pounds eight shillings, Mrs.Bunting!" He thrust his hand through into an inner pocket of his long cape-like coat and took out a handful of sovereigns.