"I've had something else to do than to get book-learning." said Mr. Cohen,--"I've had to make myself knowing about useful things. I know stones well,"--here he pointed to Deronda's ring. "I'm not afraid of taking that ring of yours at my own valuation. But now," he added, with a certain drop in his voice to a lower, more familiar nasal, "what do you want for it?"

"I've been too busy for book-learning." said Mr. Cohen. "I've had to learn about useful things. I know stones well," - here he pointed to Deronda's ring. "Now, what do you want for it?"
