Mrs. Blake and her friend, Mrs. Spicer, here entered the store.
Mr. Drummond went forward to meet them. His face was flushed, but he tried to look composed.
"I am glad to see you back, ladies," he said. "You told me that you bought your shawl of a boy?" turning to Mrs. Blake.
"Yes, sir."
"Come forward, Conrad," said Mr. Drummond, a malignant smile overspreading his face. "Perhaps you will deny now, to this lady's face, that you sold her the shawl she has on."
"I certainly do," said Walter. "I never, to my knowledge, saw the lady before, and I know that I did not sell her the shawl."
"What do you think of that, Mr. Nichols?" said Mr. Drummond. "Did you ever witness such unblushing falsehood?"
But here a shell was thrown into Mr. Drummond's camp, and by Mrs. Blake herself.
"The boy is perfectly right," she said. "I did not buy the shawl of him."