"I can assure you you would not take them in your hand."
But the young man was not to be put off so easily; he followed her into the shop, and waited till the customers were all served, then remarked again that he would like to see the umbrellas.
"But, my good sir, don't bother me about the umbrellas. I tell you they would be of no use to you. They are some that were left from the time of my poor husband; he knew how to mend umbrellas, and most of these are broken and torn, and they certainly will not have improved, lying on the dusty loft so long. Besides, I cannot show you them, for my son is at the fair, the servant has a bad foot and cannot move, and when there is a fair my shop is always full, so I cannot leave it to go with you."
The young lawyer took a five-florin note out of his pocket.
"I don't want you to do it for nothing, Mrs. Müncz, but I must see the umbrellas at any price. So let me go up alone to the loft, and please take this in return for your kindness."
Mrs. Müncz did not take the money, and her small black eyes examined the young man suspiciously.
"Now I shall certainly not show you the umbrellas."
"And why not?"
"My poor dead husband used to say: 'Rosália, never do anything you don't understand the reason of,' and my husband was a very clever man."
"Of course, of course, you are quite right, and can't understand why I offer five florins for an old ragged umbrella."