The lad opened it. The gentleman pointed to the material, and said to Semén:
"Listen now, shoemaker! Do you see the material?"
"I do," he said, "your Honour."
"Do you understand what kind of material this is?"
Semén felt of it, and said:
"It is good material."
"I should say it is! You, fool, have never seen such before. It is German material: it costs twenty roubles."
Semén was frightened, and he said:
"How could we have seen such?"
"That's it. Can you make me boots to fit my feet from this material?"