"What d'ye mean insult this lady?" Elkan asked stoutly. "I never says a word to her. Maybe I ain't so long in the country as you are, but I got just so much respect for the old folks as anybody. Furthermore, she is showing me here garments which, honest, Mister—er——"
"Lapin," Max said.
"Mister Lapin, a house with the reputation of Appenweier & Murray shouldn't ought to got in stock at all."
"Say, lookyhere, young feller," Lapin cried, "what are you driving into anyway? I am buyer here, and if you got any kick coming tell it to me, and don't go insulting the salesladies."
"I ain't insulted no saleslady, Mr. Lapin," Elkan declared. "I am coming here to buy for my wife a dress and certainly I want to get for my money some decent value; and when this lady shows me a garment like this"—he held up the topmost garment—"and says it is from this year a model, understand me, naturally I got my own idees on the subject."
Lapin looked critically at the garment in question.
"Did you get this style from that third case there, Miss Holzmeyer?" he asked, and Miss Holzmeyer nodded.
"Well, that whole case is full of leftovers and I don't want it touched," Lapin said. "Now go ahead and show this gentleman's wife some more models; and if he gets fresh let me know—that's all."
"One minute, Mr. Lapin," Elkan said. "Will you do me the favour and let me show you something?"
He held up the garment last exhibited by Miss Holzmeyer and pointed to the yoke and its border.