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Rh "I think you tradespeople make a great mistake in worrying people to buy things they don't want," said Gay.

"You'd be surprised if you knew the quantity of things we get rid of by this means, sir."

"No doubt, but I think you keep a great many people out of your shop. If $$x$$ represents the amount you gain by it, and $$y$$ the amount you lose by it, then if $$\tfrac{x}2 = y$$ you are clearly out of pocket by it at the end of the year. Think this over. Good evening."

And Mr. Gay left the shop with Jessie. "Stanley," said she, "what a blessing you are to mankind. You do good wherever you go."

"My dear Jessie," replied Gay, "I have had a magnificent education, and if I can show these worthy but half-educated tradesmen that their ignorance of the profounder mathematics is misleading them, I am only dealing as I should deal with the blessings that have been entrusted to my care."

As Messrs. Baylis & Culpepper have nothing more to do with this story, it may be stated at once that Stanley Gay's words had a marked effect upon them. They determined never to push an article again, and within two years of this resolve they retired on ample fortunes, Baylis to a beautiful detached house on Clapham Common, and Culpepper to a handsome château on the Mediterranean, about four miles from Nice.