I carried every sovereign of that money in the grave down from
London in my brown bag." He smiled reflectively. "Do you know how much a
thousand sovereigns weigh, Doctor Mary?"
"I haven't the least idea," said Mary again. She was leaning forward
now, listening intently, and watching Beaumaroy's face with
absorbed interest.
"Seventeen and three-quarter pounds avoirdupois--that's the correct
weight. The first time or two we didn't get much--they were still shy of
us. But after that we made some heavy; hauls. Twice we brought down close
on two thousand. Once there was three thousand, almost to a sovereign.
Even men trained to the work--bullion porters, as they call them at the
Bank of England--reckon five bags of a thousand, canvas bags not much
short of a foot long and six inches across, you know--they reckon five of
them a full load--and wouldn't care to go far with them either. The
equivalent of three of them was quite enough for me to carry from Inkston
station up to the Cottage--trying to look as if I were carrying nothing
of any account! One hasn't got to pretend to be carrying nothing in full
marching kit--nor to carry it all in one hand.
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