a fool. Besides, he owes you money. Remember that I told you first.
Have you any tobacco?"

And to the grass shack of Mapuhi went Toriki. He was a masterful man,
withal a fairly stupid one. Carelessly he glanced at the wonderful
pearl--glanced for a moment only; and carelessly he dropped it into
his pocket.

"You are lucky," he said. "It is a nice pearl. I will give you credit
on the books."

"I want a house," Mapuhi began, in consternation. "It must be six
fathoms--"

"Six fathoms your grandmother!" was the trader's retort. "You want to
pay up your debts, that's what you want. You owed me twelve hundred
dollars Chili. Very well; you owe them no longer. The amount is
squared. Besides, I will give you credit for two hundred Chili. If,
when I get to Tahiti, the pearl sells well, I will give you credit for
another hundred--that will make three hundred. But mind, only if the
pearl sells well. I may even lose money on it."

Mapuhi folded his arms in sorrow and sat with bowed head. He had been
robbed of his pearl. In place of the house, he had paid a debt. There
was nothing to show for the pearl.

"You are a fool," said Tefara.

"You are a fool," said Nauri, his mother. "Why did you let the pearl
into his hand?"