‘I will look at your things,’ I said, in a way which I believe I had, of perhaps undue pretension.  I had never been over-rich, or of very elevated station; but I was believed by my friends (or enemies) to have an inclination to make myself out something more important than I was.  ’I will look at your things, and possibly I may find something that may suit me; but with all the ateliers of Paris and London to draw from, it is scarcely to be expected that in a place like this—­’

Here I stopped to draw my breath, with a good deal of confusion; for I was unwilling to let him see that I did not know where I was.

‘A place like this,’ said the shop-keeper, with a little laugh which seemed to me full of mockery, ’will supply you better, you will find, than—­any other place.  At least you will find it the only place practicable,’ he added.  ‘I perceive you are a stranger here.’

’Well, I may allow myself to be so, more or less.  I have not had time to form much acquaintance with—­the place; what—­do you call the place?—­its formal name, I mean,’ I said with a great desire to keep up the air of superior information.  Except for the first moment, I had not experienced that strange power of looking into the man below the surface which had frightened me.  Now there occurred another gleam of insight, which gave me once more a sensation of alarm.  I seemed to see a light of hatred and contempt below his smile; and I felt that he was not in the least taken in by the air which I assumed.

‘The name of the place,’ he said, ’is not a pretty one.  I hear the gentlemen who come to my shop say that it is not to be named to ears polite; and I am sure your ears are very polite.’  He said this with the most offensive laugh, and I turned upon him and answered him, without mincing matters, with a plainness of speech which startled myself, but did not seem to move him, for he only laughed again.  ’Are you not afraid,’ I said, ‘that I will leave your shop and never enter it more?’

‘Oh, it helps to pass the time,’ he said; and without any further comment began to show me very elaborate and fine articles of furniture.  I had always been attracted to this sort of thing, and had longed to buy such articles for my house when I had one, but never had it in my power.  Now I had no house, nor any means of paying so far as I knew, but I felt quite at my ease about buying, and inquired into the prices with the greatest composure.

’They are just the sort of thing I want.  I will take these, I think; but you must set them aside for me, for I do not at the present moment exactly know—­’

‘You mean you have got no rooms to put them in,’ said the master of the shop.  ’You must get a house directly, that’s all.  If you’re only up to it, it is easy enough.  Look about until you find something you like, and then—­take possession.’

’Take possession’—­I was so much surprised that I stared at him with mingled indignation and surprise—­’of what belongs to another man?’ I said.