She was bright and confidential. She had thought that everything would be closed because of the Procession... so lucky—
A short red-faced woman, dressed in bright colours, and carrying innumerable little parcels wanted “Under Two Flags,” by Mrs. Henry Wood.
“It's by Ouida, Madam,” Peter told her.
“Nonsense, don't tell me. As if I didn't know.”
Peter produced the volume and showed it to her. She dropped some of her parcels—they both went to pick them up.
Red in the face, she glared at him. “Really it's too provoking, I know it was Mrs. Henry Wood I wanted.”
“Perhaps 'East Lynne,' or 'The Channings'—”
“Nonsense—don't tell me—it was 'Under Two Flags.'”
Finally the woman put both “Under Two Flags” and “East Lynne” into her bag and departed. A silence fell upon the shop. Herr Gottfried was at his desk, Mr. Zanti at the street door, the girl at the door of the inner room, they were all motionless. Beyond the shop the murmur of the gathering crowd was like the confused, blundering hum of bees; a band was playing stridently in Oxford Street.
Once Peter said: “It passes about three-thirty, doesn't it? I think I'll just go out and have a look later. It'll be fine if only the sun comes.”