a House. On the third the number,--Nine
times nine is eighty one. On the fourth, an edict of trade
against which retail houses in the haberdashery line should never
sin,--"Terms: Ready cash." And on the last, the special principle of
our trade,--"Five-and-a-half per cent. profit." The back of the shop
was closed in with magenta curtains, through which the bald head of
Mr. Brown would not unfrequently be seen to emerge; and on each side
of the curtains there stood a tall mirror, reaching up to the very
ceiling. Upon the whole, the thing certainly was well done.

"But the contractor,"--the man who did the work was called the
contractor,--"the contractor says that he will want the rest of his
money in two months," said Mr. Brown, whining.

"He would not have wanted any for the next twelve months," answered
Robinson, "if you had not insisted on paying him those few hundreds."

"You can find fault with the bill, you know," said Jones, "and delay
it almost any time by threatening him with a lawyer."

"And then he will put a distress on us," said Mr. Brown.

"And after that will be very happy to take our bill at six months,"
answered Robinson. And so that matter was ended for the time.

Those men in armour stood there the whole of that day, and Fame
in his gilded car used his trumpet up and down Bishopsgate Street
with such effect, that the people living on each side of the street
became very sick of him. Fame himself was well acted,--at 16_s._
the day,--and when the triumphal car remained still, stood balanced
on one leg, with the other stretched out behind, in a manner that
riveted attention. But no doubt his horn was badly chosen. Mr.
Robinson insisted on a long single-tubed instrument, saying that it
was classical; but a cornet a piston would have given more pleasure.

A good deal of money was taken on that day; but certainly not so much
as had been anticipated. Very many articles were asked for, looked
at, and then not purchased. But this, though it occasioned grief to
Mr. Brown, was really not of much moment. That the thing should be
talked of,--if possible mentioned in the newspapers--was the object
of the firm.

"I would give my bond for 2,000_l._," said Robinson, "to get a leader
in the Jupiter."

The first article demanded over the counter was a real African monkey
muff, very superior, with long fine hair.

"The ships which are bringing them have not yet arrived from the
coast," answered Jones, who luckil