May and Primrose, bearing with me the golden Cypripedium, which was now enclosed in a flat tin case.
As it happened I chose an unlucky day and hour, for on arriving at the office and asking for Mr.May, I was informed that he was away in the country valuing.
"Then I would like to see Mr.Primrose," I said.
"Mr.Primrose is round at the Rooms selling," replied the clerk, who appeared to be very busy.
"Where are the Rooms ?" I asked.
"Out of the door, turn to the left, turn to the left again and under the clock," said the clerk, and closed the shutter.
So disgusted was I with his rudeness that I nearly gave up the enterprise.

Thinking better of it, however, I followed the directions given, and in a minute or two found myself in a narrow passage that led to a large room.

To one who had never seen anything of the sort before, this room offered a curious sight.

The first thing I observed was a notice on the wall to the effect that customers were not allowed to smoke pipes.

I thought to myself that orchids must be curious flowers if they could distinguish between the smoke of a cigar and a pipe, and stepped into the room.