8 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

“Not a bit of it—not a bit of it! Had I asked
her three dollars a yard, she would have wanted it
for two. So I said six, to begin with, expecting to
fall extensively; and, to put a good face on the
matter, told her that it cost within a fraction of
what’ I asked to make the importation—remarking,
at the same time, that the goods were too rich in
quality to bear a profit, and were only kept as a
matter of accommodation to certain customers.”’

‘“‘ And she bought at five ?”

‘Yes; thinking she had obtained the velvet at
seventy-five cents a yard less than its cost. Gene-
rous customer, truly!”

‘While you, in reality, made two dollars and a
half on every yard she bought.”

*¢ Precisely that sum.”’

‘She had six yards.”’

: “Yes; out of which we made a clear profit of
fifteen dollars. That will do, I’m thinking. Opera-
tions like this count up fast.”’

“Very fast. But, Mr. Jasper”

* But what, Edward ?”

‘Ts it altogether prudent to multiply operations
of this character? Won't it make for you a bad
reputation, and thus diminish, instead of increasing,
your custom ?”’

‘“‘T fear nothing of the kind. One-half the peo-
ple are not satisfied unless you cheat them. I’ve
handled the yardstick, off and on, for the last fif-
teen or twenty years, and I think my observation
during that time is worth something. It tells me
this—that a bold face, a smooth tongue, and an
easy conscience are worth more in our business than