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Rh mere technicality and won't hurt you in the least. I can see that you are a man who does not care for public opinion except in so far as it affects your business."

"Oh, you've come to that conclusion, have you?"

"Yes, and your attitude is explained by your undoubted success. When one looks at this immense emporium, when one threads his way through crowded shops to this office, which contains the brains of the business, and when one realises that this has all been built up in ten short years by a man single-handed, it doesn't take much perspicuity to understand that such a man cares little for the opinion of his fellows."

Brassard's eyes were wide open now, but his gaze on the other was more penetrating than ever. Some doubt arose in his mind that he had rated the young man properly in classing him as a floor-walker. He was puzzled, and yet pleased, in spite of his frequent boast that no man could flatter him. The fact that this young man had hit the bull's-eye of his pride aroused his suspicion, but he could not resist a mild swagger.

"Yes," he said, "I've built this business up in ten years, and in ten years more I'll dominate the retail trade of London." With that he raised his clenched fist into the air as if within its clutch he was strangling future Bendales.