Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/331

 whereas the truth is that it is actually very much below their real value. Do not treat me thus unfairly.'

"'It is not for me, sir/ replied the shopkeeper, 'to demand a price for my own goods ; my duty is to leave that entirely to you. But the fact is, that these goods are old stock, and are not even the best of their kind ; you would do much better at another shop. However, let us say half what you are good enough to offer ; even then I feel I shall be taking a great deal too much. I could not think, sir, of parting with my goods at your price.'

" ' What is that you are saying, sir ? ' cried the soldier. 'Although not in the trade myself, I can tell superior from inferior articles, and am not likely to mistake one for the other. And to pay a low price for a good article is simply another way of taking money out of a man's pocket.'

" ' Sir,' retorted the shopkeeper, ' if you are such a stickler for justice as all that, let us say half the price you first mentioned, and the goods are yours. If you object to that, I must ask you to take your custom else- where. You will then find that I am not imposing on you.'

" The soldier at first stuck to his text, but seeing that the shopkeeper was not inclined to give way, he laid down the sum named and began to take his goods, picking out the very worst he could find. Here, how- ever, the shopkeeper interposed, saying, ' Excuse me, sir, but you are taking all the bad ones. It is doubtless very kind of you to leave the best for me, but if all men were like you there would be a general collapse of trade.'

'" Sir,' replied the soldier, 'as you insist on accepting only half the value of the goods, there is no course open to me but to choose inferior articles. Besides, as a

�� �