"An' t' think of a flea bein' worth a dollar!" said Flannery. "Thim
can't be crude fleas at sich a price, professor."
"No! Certain, no!" cried the three men again.
"Not crude," said Flannery, "and imported by th' professor! 'T is odd I
should have seen a refirince t' them very things this very day,
professor. 'T is in this book here." He took the list of customs duties
from his pocket and leaned his elbows on his knees, and ran his hand
down the pages.
"'Cattle, if less than one year old, per head, two dollars. All other,
if valued less than $14 per head, $3.75; if valued more than $14 per
head, twinty-sivin and one half per cent.,'" read Flannery. "Sure, fleas
does not count as cattle, professor. Nor does they come in as swine, th'
duty on which is one dollar an' fifty cints per head. I know th' pig,
an' I am acquainted with th' flea, an' there is a difference between
thim that annyone would recognize. Nor do they be 'Horses an' Mules' nor
yet 'Sheep,' Some might count them in as 'All other live animals not
otherwise specified, twinty per cent.,' but 't was not there I saw
refirince t' thim.
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