very much," she said. "May we have what
you've shown us?"

Planchet inclined his head.

"As _Madame_ pleases."

I crossed to where he was standing and went through my list,
identifying each article as I came to it, and making him confirm the
price. When we had finished, I insisted upon him checking my figures.
He did so with some show of reluctance. The total, seemingly, was good
enough.

When the reckoning was over, I hesitated.

Then--

"You know," I said slowly, "we'd have to pay much more than this in the
shops."

It seemed only fair.

Planchet spread out his hands.

"_Monsieur_ is very kind: but for me, I should not obtain more from the
merchants. I know them. They are robbers. I prefer infinitely to
deal with you."

"All right. You don't mind a cheque?"

"A cheque, _Monsieur_?"

"Yes, on the bank here. We haven't so much money in the house."

The little man hesitated. Nervously the big brown eyes turned from me
to fall upon his possessions....

"That's all right," said Berry. "The bank's still open. Fitch can run
up in the car and get the money. He's probably had a dud cheque some
time or other. Anyway, considering he knows nothing of us, and Sally's
out of reach, I don't blame him."

Such a way out of the difficulty was unanimously approved, and when I
communicated our intention to Planchet, the latter seemed greatly
relieved. It was not, he explained volubly, that he did not trust us,
but when a poor sailor produced such a cheque to a bank....

As Berry left to give the chauffeur his instructions--

"Last time you came," said Daphne, "you brought a beautiful shawl.
Mrs. Featherstone bought it."

Planchet frowned thoughtfully. Then his face lighted with recollection.

"Perfectly, _Madame_. I remember it. It was very fine. I have
another like it at home."

My sister caught her breath.

"For sale?"

"If _Madame pleases_." Adele and Jill clasped one another. "I will
bring it to-morrow."

With an obvious effort Daphne controlled her excitement.

"I--we should like to have a look at it," she said.

Planchet inclined his head.

"To-morrow morning, _Madame_."

Without more ado he packed up his traps, announced that, as he was
returning on the morrow, there was now no occasion for him to wait for
his money, and, thanking us profusely for our patronage and assuring us
that he was ever at our service, summoned his employee and withdrew
humbly enough.

It was ful