sprigs_, they call them--do you know that the skins of those _silver
sprigs_ are worth any money?"

"Any money! what money?"

"Pooh! I don't know exactly: but I mean to buy that warren."

"Before you know what it is worth! Let us consider; each dozen of skins
is worth, say, from ten to fifteen shillings."

"You need not trouble yourself to calculate now," interrupted Marvel,
"for I have determined to have the warren. With the money that I shall
get for my silver sprigs, I will next year make a decoy, and supply the
London market with wild-fowl. Don't you remember the day that we met
Simon Stubbs, the carrier, loaded with game and wild-fowl, he said that
a decoy in Lincolnshire must be a fortune to any man. I'll have the best
decoy not only in Lincolnshire but in all England. By-the-bye, there's
another thing I must do, Wright; I'll exchange any part of Clover-hill
you please with you, for as much land in Holland Fen."

"Take him at his word, cousin Wright," said Goodenough.

"No, no," replied Wright; "I know the value of land, and the difference
between Clover-hill and Holland Fen, better than he does: I would not
take him at his word, for that would be taking him in."

"I would not take anybody in," said Goodenough; "but if another man is a
fool, that's no reason I should be one. Now, if a man offers me a good
bargain, why should not I close with him, and say--Done?" "Then say
done," cried Marvel, "and you shall have the bargain, Goodenough.