“Vat, theshe! they’re not vorth carrying avay. Shoddy, nothing but shoddy. Never saw such rubbish in the whole course of my life.”

“You know where they have come from, I suppose?”

“Oh, yes, I think I can guess. Her Majesty made you a present of them.”

“Right you are, and that’s why I want you to have them. Now then, don’t keep tossing them about. What are you going to allow me for them?”

“Five shillings—​not a penny more, and then I shall be loser. Not a farthing more than five bob. Oh, they are not vorth puying at any price; only, as you’re a customer—​and——”

“There, that’ll do; shut up. Will you take the two pound ten or not.”

“I can’t—​pishness is pishness; but, at the shame time, one mush live.”

“I’ll take two pound fifteen—​there!”

“Peace buttoned up his coat, looked at himself in the glass, and felt that he cut a respectable figure; so, without further haggling, he gave the Jew the required sum, and strode into the shop.”

“You look all the gentleman except——”