_ not as I please," Mrs. Feinermann
retorted. "Furthermore, you ain't got no business to get me mixed up in
this _Geschichte_ at all!"

"Who are you two anyway?" Max demanded.

"This here feller is a young feller by the name of Elkan Lubliner which
he is working by Polatkin & Scheikowitz," Mrs. Feinermann announced;
"and what he is bringing me up here for is more than I could tell you."

"Ain't he your husband?" Max asked.

"_Oser a Stueck!_" Mrs. Feinermann declared fervently. "A kid like him
should be my husband! An idee!"

"That's all right," Elkan rejoined. "_Im Russland_ at my age many a
young feller is got twins yet!"

"What's that got to do with it?" Max Lapin demanded.

"It ain't got nothing to do with it," Elkan said, "but it shows that a
young feller like me which he is raised in the old country ain't such a
kid as you think for, Mr. Lapin. And when I am telling you that the
concern which sells you them goods to retail for twenty-eight dollars is
sticking you good, understand me, you could take my word for it just the
same like I would be fifty-five even."

Again he seized one of the garments.

"And what's more," he went on breathlessly, "the workmanship is rotten.
Look at here!--the seams is falling to pieces already!"

He thrust the garment under Lapin's nose with one hand, while with the
other he dug down into his trousers pocket.

"Here!" he shouted. "Here is money--fifty dollars!"

He dropped the gown and held out a roll of bills toward Lapin.

"Take it!" he said hysterically. "Take it all; and if I don't bring you
to-morrow morning, first thing, this same identical style, only
A-number-one workmanship, which you could retail for twenty dollars a
garment, understand me, keep the money and _fertig_."

At this juncture the well-nourished figure of Louis Appenweier, senior
member of Appenweier & Murray, appeared in the door of the elevator and
Max Lapin turned on his heel.

"Come into my office," he hissed; and as he started for the glazed
mahogany door he gathered up the remaining garments and took them with
him.

For more than half an hour Elkan and Max Lapin remained closeted
together, and during that period Elkan conducted a clinic over each
garment to such good purpose that Max sent out from time to time for
more expensive styles. All of these were in turn examined by Elkan, who
recognized in at least six models the designs of Joseph Redman, slightly
altered in the stealing by Leon S