that!' said Mrs. Albert Shawn. 'It isn't above
half-past nine on the first morning of the sale, and you advertised two
thousand of them.'

'Sorry, miss. All sold out,' repeated the second shopwalker.

'I shall report this to Mr. Hugo. Do you know who I am? I'm--'

And the second shopwalker also turned his back.

Could these things be happening at Hugo's, at Hugo's, so famous for the
courtesy, the long patience, the indestructible politeness of its
well-paid employes? And could Hugo have descended to the trickeries of
the eleven-pence-halfpenny draper, who proclaimed non-existent bargains
to lure the unwary into his shop? Lily might have wondered if she was
not dreaming, but she was far too practical ever to be in the least
doubt as to whether she was asleep or awake. And now she perceived that
scores of angry women about her were equally disappointed by the
disgraceful absence of those stoles. The department, misty, stuffy, and
noisy, had the air of being the scene of an insurrection. One lady was
informing the public generally that she had demanded a guinea stole at
three minutes past nine, and had been put off with a monstrous excuse.
And then a newspaper reporter appeared, and began to take notes. The din
increased, though shopwalkers said less and less, and the chances seemed
in favour of the insurrection becoming a riot. Other admirable bargains
in furs were indubitably to be had--muffs, for example--and the cashiers
were busy; but nothing could atone for the famine of stoles.

Lily had a suspicion that Albert would have wished her to report these
singular circumstances to Hugo at once. But she dismissed the suspicion,
because she passionately desired an 'Incroyable' corset at twelve and
eleven, and she feared lest the corsets might have vanished as strangely
as the stoles. In ten minutes, breathless, she had reached the corset
department, demanded an 'Incroyable' of the correct size, and bought it.
There was no dissatisfaction in the corset department.

'Shall we send it, miss?'

'Madam,' said Lily proudly. 'No, I'll take it.'

'Yes, madam.'

At the cash desk (No. 56) she had to wait her turn in a disorderly
queue before she could tender the bill and her five-pound note.
Customers pressed round her on all sides as she put down the note and
peered through the wire network into the interior of the desk.

'Next, please,' said the cashier sharply, after a moment.

'My change,' demanded Lily.

'You have h