'But on what ground?'
'She says I gave it to her.'
Sugarman clucked his tongue. 'Tututu! Better if we had followed our old custom, and the man had worn the engagement-ring, not the woman!'
'In the workshop,' Elias went on miserably, 'she flashes it in my eyes. Everybody makes mock. Oh, the Jezebel!'
'I should summons her!'
'It would only cost me more. Is it not true I gave her the ring?'
Sugarman mopped his brow. His vast experience was at fault. No maiden had ever refused to return his client's ring; rather had she flung it in the wooer's false teeth.
'This comes of your love matches!' he cried sternly. 'Next time there must be a proper contract.'
'Next time!' repeated Elias. 'Why how am I to afford a new ring? Fanny was ruinous in cups of chocolate and the pit of the Pavilion Theatre!'
'I should want my fee down!' said Sugarman sharply.