“Discount,” said I, “what’s that? We haven’t got to it yet in Syntax.”

“Don’t be a young ass. Did none of them give you any change?”

“Rather, all of them. I brought it back, or used it to pay the rest.”

“What I mean is, you didn’t make anything out of it for yourself, did you?”

“Me—oh!” the conscious blushes suddenly mounted as I grasped his meaning.

“Yes, you.”

“Well, only, you see, it was—”

“Come, no lies. I know all about it. Did you or did you not?”

“Not from the hat man,” said I.

“From all the others?”