688. Why?-Because I do not know the prices of the goods, and they won't mark them down themselves.
689. But they would mark the quantities of the articles you got, would they not?-No; they would not be bothered with that.
690. Have you ever asked for a pass-book?-Yes; I had a pass-book, and I had to drop it, because Irvine said he would not be bothered with it.
691. Does Mr. Irvine keep the store himself?-Yes.
692. Does he collect the rents on the property?-No; Mr. Bruce carries through the annual accounting himself.
693. When you go to settle with him, the books of the store are all made up by Mr. Irvine; and does Mr. Bruce state the balance to you?-Yes.
694. Does he show you how it is made up?-Mr. Irvine tells us the amount we have had from the store, and hands that in to Mr. Bruce. Mr. Bruce enters that against us along with the rent, and tells us the balance.
695. What means have you for checking that statement of his? How do you know whether it is correct or not?-We don't have the chance of knowing whether is correct or not.
696. Do you not know how much goods you have got?-Perhaps we might; but we cannot know the price of the goods.
697. But you might know how much goods you have got, and how much fish you have delivered, and how much you have to pay?- But we don't know the price of the goods.