The Stolen White Elephant. Марк Твен

put that down. What nationalities would he prefer?”

      “He is indifferent about nationalities. He prefers acquaintances, but is not prejudiced against strangers.”

      “Very good. Now, as to Bibles. How many Bibles would he eat at a meal?”

      “He would eat an entire edition.”

      “It is hardly succinct enough. Do you mean the ordinary octavo, or the family illustrated?”

      “I think he would be indifferent to illustrations that is, I think he would not value illustrations above simple letterpress.”

      “No, you do not get my idea. I refer to bulk. The ordinary octavo Bible weighs about two pounds and a half, while the great quarto with the illustrations weighs ten or twelve. How many Dore Bibles would he eat at a meal?”

      “If you knew this elephant, you could not ask. He would take what they had.”

      “Well, put it in dollars and cents, then. We must get at it somehow. The Dore costs a hundred dollars a copy, Russia leather, beveled.”

      “He would require about fifty thousand dollars worth – say an edition of five hundred copies.”